The Twilight Store (S1:E1)
It’s late November 2023 when I received an email from Google that my app would be removed from the Google Play store if I didn’t take action.
The app is “EasyJoin — SMS on PC and more” (https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=net.easyjoin.pro&hl=en&gl=us).
The application offers various functionalities, among them is the synchronization of SMS, contacts, and phone calls between the user’s devices. The data is not sent to an external server, but is sent directly from one device to another, usually using only the internal network, without going through the Internet. It is a paid app and those who paid for it did so to be able to use the features described on the app’s Play store page.
The app was published more than 5 years ago and actively updated and maintained to this day.
Keep in mind that this is a paid application that does not send data to external servers (mine or third parties).
About 5 years ago, Google decided not to allow all applications published in Google Play store to be able to use SMS and call log reading permissions. This applied to both existing and new applications. My app was initially denied the ability to use these permissions (https://redd.it/9v84c7/), but when the case became public, the initial decision was revised and I was given permission to use the permissions for my app (https://redd.it/9yrio4/).
At the end of November last year, I received this email from Google after trying to publish an update:
“Issue found: Invalid or inaccurate Permission Form
Your app uses sensitive permissions that require a Permissions Declaration Form to be properly submitted. Please check that you have accurately submitted the form in the Play console and that you are only using the allowed permission for your declared use case(s).”
I tried to get a detailed explanation of what the problem was since no problem was being reported in the developer console. After a series of appeals and responses, I was given the following explanation:
“Issue found: Use of permission is not a permitted use case for PROCESS_OUTGOING_CALLS permission”
I explained that permission was granted to the app more than 5 years ago, but to no avail.
Don’t miss S1E2
