Google has stated that it would soon begin preventing VPN apps from blocking or obstructing ads that are available on its Android Play Store marketplace.
According to the business's Developer Program Policy, which was released in July 2022, as of November 1 only VPN apps that use VPNService and whose main purpose is to provide a virtual private network are allowed to establish a secure device-level tunnel to a distant server.
According to Google, legal VPN apps shouldn't gather sensitive or personal information without clear notification and, more significantly, user agreement. Additionally, they shouldn't reroute or modify traffic or adverts that can affect how other services are monetized.
Android VPN apps are they legal?
It was disclosed earlier this year that Google would be making some adjustments to the Play Store, including placing some very stringent limitations on VPN programmes that may be downloaded on Android smartphones.
Blokada, a Swedish ad-blocking VPN app, has expressed concerns about the law, saying that it "would hamper at least the previous generation of its software," according to The Register(opens in new tab). This is in reference to v5, which according to blog administrator and post author Reda Labdaoui(opens in new tab), has experienced "many takedowns in the past."
According to the same Blokada blog article, v6 is not anticipated to experience the same problems because it makes use of cloud filtering. In addition to not violating Google policies, according to Blokada, this should have less of an impact on battery life, device speed, and network speed than local VPN filtering.
A DuckDuckGo spokeswoman wrote in an email to The Register that the company "doesn't expect we'll be impacted by the regulation, but our team is continuing to review it."
Are iOS VPN apps permitted?
Consider switching to iOS. Not just Google is tightening regulations on apps that provide VPN services.
According to Apple's guidelines, VPN apps must make use of the NEVPNManager API, and developers must be employees of a corporation, not an individual.
The top corporate VPN services may be found here.
