We all know that a significant amount of Google’s internet profits are from online advertisements. So you can understand – but not without a few whispers and grumbles of your own – why Google would take issue with apps that block online advertising. It seems that it has done it again to an app that serves as an ad blocking extension to Samsung’s browser.
Just recently, Samsung announced that it was incorporating Adblock’s algorithms in its own web browser. Just today, Google pulled out from the Play Store the Adblock Fast app, Samsung’s launch partner. There was little explanation as to why the app has been stricken from the Play Store. See Google’s letter to Adblock below.
Hi Developers at Rocketship Apps,
I reviewed Adblock Fast, com.rocketshipapps.adblockfast, and found that it violates section 4.4 of the Developer Distribution Agreement. This particular app has been disabled as a policy strike.
Just as a reminder, you’ve agreed to follow the Google Play Developer Program Policies and additional enforcement could occur if there are further policy issues with your apps.
If you’ve reviewed the policies and feel this rejection may have been in error, please reach out to our policy support team. One of my colleagues will get back to you within 2 business days.
I appreciate your support of Google Play!
Best,
Google Play Review Team
The “Section 4.4” the letter refers to basically says that apps should not do anything that “interferes with, disrupts, damages, or accesses in an unauthorized manner the devices, servers, networks, or other properties or services of any third party including, but not limited to, Android users, Google or any mobile network operator.” The Adblock app does not do any disrupting technically. But it disrupt the loading of web pages with ads. It’s possible that this is what Google is upset about, but they have yet to reply to the Adblock team. Watch this space.
VIA: The Next Web
Is there a way to get the app outside of the Play Store?