//Google starts cracking down on apps that unnecessarily access your media library//

Google carried out an additional confidential media picker with Android 13 of every 2022. In the long run, the organization backported the new choice to Android 4.4+ gadgets through Google Play Administrations. After some time, numerous applications embraced the new media picker, permitting you to give them admittance to just those photos and recordings that you need. Tragically, not all Android applications utilize the new photograph picker in spite of Google asking designers to do as such. Presently, the organization is assuming control over issues by constraining applications to take on the new photograph picker through a Play Store strategy change.

1. Google is enforcing developers to use the new photo picker for their Android apps for enhanced privacy & security.
2. Starting mid-2024, apps unrelated to media functions can't request image/video access.
3. Developers have until Oct 31, 2024, for compliance or an extension.

Android master Mishaal Rahman, in a report for Android Authority, subtleties how Google will do this. In October 2023, the organization informed engineers that it would begin getting serious about applications that superfluously demand admittance to the READ_MEDIA_IMAGES and READ_MEDIA_VIDEO consents for getting to media documents beginning mid-2024. Then, at that point, starting in mid 2025, just applications whose center usefulness spins around photographs and recordings will be permitted to utilize these two authorizations. This incorporates exhibition, picture altering, or other comparable applications.

According to research's help page, "instances of one-time or rare utilization of photographs or video records incorporate however are not restricted to: transferring a profile picture, transferring a picture for a playlist or transferring a photograph of a check for the end goal of banking." Such applications shouldn't utilize the MEDIA_IMAGES and MEDIA_VIDEO consents; all things being equal, they should involve the new media picker for a more rich and more secure insight. Google informed designers at I/O 2024 about its expectation to uphold these strategy changes beginning in August 2024. The organization missed that cutoff time, however it seems to have begun the crackdown starting September 18, 2024. Engineers whose applications use the previously mentioned pictures and video consents have until October 31, 2024, to present a statement structure to guarantee they fit the bill for their use. Engineers will likewise get a self-administration choice to demand a consistence cutoff time expansion until January 22, 2025. Assuming they neglect to present the vital statement toward the finish of October, they will be obstructed from refreshing their application. In situations where Google endorses the expansion, engineers have opportunity and energy until January 22, 2025, to follow the guideline. On the off chance that they neglect to do as such by, their application will be eliminated from the Google Play Store. Just private and endeavor the board applications are excluded from this strategy.

//App developers can request an extension//

Generally, this change from Google is a positive development and one that engineers ought to have hopped on as of now. The main issue is that the Android record picker gives a barebones experience, which the organization should get to the next level. It's basically impossible to look through or channel your photographs or recordings.