Google now limiting apps from seeing what's installed on devices

American multinational technology company Google will soon be more selective about which apps on the Play Store can see all of the other apps, installed by users. According to The Verge, the list of installed apps can communicate to developers' personal traits like dating preferences and political affiliations. So, starting on May 5, 2021, developers will have to provide a very good reason for why Google should let them access info like that. Android 11 apps that currently request the "QUERY_ALL_PACKAGES" permission can currently see the full list of apps stored on a device. But Google recently updated its Developer Program Policy and now considers that info to be "personal and sensitive user data," restricting which apps are allowed to use it. As per The Verge, Google's documentation clearly states it will come down hard on offending apps, whether they're new to the Play Store or just updates to existing apps. Google could suspend apps and possibly terminate developer accounts.