Google will soon ban third-party call recording apps from the Play Store. First highlighted by the developers of the affected apps, Google announced in a Google Play policy update coming into effect on May 11. Once enabled, developers wishing to send the app to the Play Store will not be able to record calls using the Android Accessibility API, and the call recording app utility on Android will end.
Google hasn’t officially allowed third-party call recording on Android for years. Call recording is not surprising as even different countries and states are legitimate minefields with their own set of rules. If you’re using a first-party phone app, this feature will show or hide depending on where your phone is. Third-party recording apps that plug into the Phone’s Accessibility API Company hack avoid this.
This is no longer the case. According to Google’s new policy; “The Accessibility API is not designed for voice recording of long-distance calls and cannot be requested.”
This is Google’s own phone app available on a variety of Android smartphones, from Pixel to OnePlus phones. It does not affect first party apps such as. To some Xiaomi phones. These system apps already have elevated privileges and you don’t have to rely on non-standard APIs to capture call audio.
The rule will take effect on May 11th, just as Google I / O will begin. However, because Android is an open operating system, app developers may make your app available to customers in third-party app stores or directly through downloads. After all, Google’s banning you from the Play Store isn’t too devastating, as long as you have the option to go elsewhere.