An Appeal for Fair Google Play Policies

An Appeal for Fair Google Play Developer Policies

Last Updated: June 30, 2025

This page details a critical issue with Google Play's policy enforcement that threatens the availability of my services for Android users. I believe the current situation is the result of a rigid, automated system that lacks proportionality and common sense. I am respectfully asking for Google to reconsider its position and for my users to lend their voice to this important matter.

The Core Issue: A Demand for Unnecessary App Recertification

Summary: The application Wildfire Info is under threat of removal from the Google Play Store by July 23, 2025. This action stems from a minor website configuration issue that has already been fully resolved. However, Google continues to demand a full, burdensome resubmission of the entire application.

Here is a factual breakdown of the events:

A Strategic Decision: As part of an initiative to focus resources, access to my websites was geofenced to my primary service regions (USA, UK, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand).
Google's Mandate: Google Play Policy requires that an app's privacy policy URL be non-geofenced and globally accessible. The firewall change temporarily brought my link out of compliance with this mandate.
Immediate Compliance: Upon notification, this issue was immediately and fully rectified. The privacy policy now resides on a dedicated, globally accessible URL, satisfying the explicit terms of the policy.
Google's Disproportionate Response: Despite this simple server-side fix—which required zero changes to the application code itself—Google maintains that a full resubmission of the entire application is required to "fix the issue." This is a time-consuming, unnecessary process that forces development resources away from genuine bug fixes and feature enhancements for users.

It is my firm position that developers should not be punished with forced, full-scale application updates for minor, corrected, server-side issues. This represents a bureaucratic overreach that is harmful to the developer ecosystem.

A Pattern of Systemic Challenges

This incident does not occur in a vacuum. It is the latest in a series of systemic challenges that impede my ability to deliver the high-quality services my users expect.

Critical Third-Party Service Failures: Core features in several applications (`Doom Scroll Global`, `Wildfire Info`, `Earthquake Monitor`) remain degraded due to a prolonged, large-scale outage of a key data provider, the GDELT Project. The GDELT servers, which run on Google Cloud, have been unresponsive since mid-June 2025 with no official explanation or timeline for resolution.
Ineffective Developer Support Channels: I face significant, ongoing difficulties in obtaining effective technical support for essential Google services. For example, a persistent bug in the Google AdMob SDK prevents users from reliably dismissing ads in apps such as `Find Lot Size` and `Map Measurement Tool`. After over a decade of waiting for various escalations, a scheduled support call in June 2025 failed to meet basic standards of professional security, and subsequent inquiries to Google's leadership have gone unanswered.
Content and Platform Governance Concerns: I have previously been forced by Google to remove functionality from `Wildfire Info` for displaying news of real-world events that their content moderators deemed inappropriate. The requirement for a special "news app" designation on the Google Play Store—a hurdle not required by other platforms like the Apple App Store—serves as a restrictive barrier to the free dissemination of information.

A Call to Action: Requesting a Policy Re-evaluation

I have exhausted all direct developer support channels to resolve this matter logically. My only remaining option is to demonstrate to Google that this policy is causing tangible harm to its customers—you. We are asking for your help in respectfully requesting that Google apply a common-sense, proportional approach to policy enforcement.

The specific request for Google: Stop requiring full application resubmissions for corrected, server-side-only issues.

You can assist in the following ways:

1. Public Appeal via Social Media (Most Effective)

A public message on X is the most powerful way to be heard. Please consider posting the following:

Hey @GooglePlay & @AndroidDev, your policy of forcing a full app resubmission for a *fixed* website link is hurting developers. You're threatening to remove `Wildfire Info` over an issue that's already solved. Please fix your process! #FairPlayPolicy

2. Official Google Play Customer Feedback

As a Google Play user, your feedback through official channels is valuable. Navigate to the Google Play Help Center and find the "Contact Us" option. When asked to describe your issue, please use the following template:

I am writing about a policy issue affecting an app I use. The app is Wildfire Info. The developer has already fixed a website link issue, but Google is still threatening to remove the app unless they do a full, unnecessary update. This is a bad policy that will prevent me and other users from getting important updates. Please ask your policy team to use common sense and not punish users and developers for issues that are already solved.

Your support in this matter is not just about one app, but about advocating for a healthier, fairer environment for all independent developers. Thank you for your time and consideration.

Sincerely,

David Gross
David Gross Apps