Google restricting apps that request unlimited access to media library

Google will soon restrict apps that request access to the entire media library on a smartphone. The Android OS developer has started reaching out to developers to adopt the privacy-preserving Android Photo Picker.

App developers have been unnecessarily demanding access to entire media

The media library or “Gallery” on an Android device reveals a lot about the user. Hence, it becomes vital to protect this area and limit access to apps.

Perhaps realizing just how sensitive the media library is, Google rolled out a more private media picker with Android 13 in 2022. The company then backported this feature to Android 4.4+. The primary intention was to offer app developers a secure way to access the media library.

Many popular apps from reputed developers have adopted the media picker. However, several apps still demand unrestricted access to the entire media library. Concerningly, quite a few of these apps don’t even need to look at the photos and videos stored on the device, and permission is often needed for one-time access only.

Google changed gears last year, and instead of requesting app developers to adopt the Android Photo Picker feature, the company is now enforcing the policy. Specifically speaking, Google will reportedly start forcing apps to adopt the new photo picker through a Play Store policy change

Google to restrict access to media library for apps unrelated to media functions

The Photo Picker API grants apps access to photos or videos without the apps needing permission to access the entire media gallery. It is essentially granting a one-time permission or infrequent access to some photos or videos.

Google updated the UI of Photo Picker making it suitable for selecting photos and videos. It offers larger previews and tabs to switch between multimedia items and albums.

Last year, Google announced that it would start cracking down on apps that “unnecessarily request the READ_MEDIA_IMAGES and/or READ_MEDIA_VIDEO permissions (on Android 13+) to access the user’s images and/or videos.” Beginning in “early 2025,” “only apps with core functionality relying on accessing the user’s image and/or videos” would be allowed to use the READ_MEDIA_IMAGES and READ_MEDIA_VIDEO permissions.

What this means is only those apps that have media functions would gain access to the entire media library. This includes the Gallery app and other image editing apps.

Google has reportedly started the crackdown on errant apps from September 18, 2024. Developers have until October 31, 2024, to justify their need to access the entire media library. They must submit a declaration form to ensure they qualify. Google is exempting private and enterprise management apps from this policy.