Google Play to revoke fullscreen notifications permission from newly installed apps that don't provide calling or alarm functionality

spyderz , 10 months ago

Now we just need Google to make apps request sound permission

Mojojojo1993 , 10 months ago

Good. Reduce all access only necessary

mojo , 10 months ago

Surely Play Services will comply with this with their full screen notification for prompt logins

Kerrigor , 10 months ago

You have to opt-in to those already. This isn't blocking applications from being able to do full screen notifications, it's just defaulting it to disabled so you have to opt in.

MargotRobbie , 10 months ago

What are some apps that uses the full screen notification function right now that will be affected by this change?

trackd , 10 months ago (edited 10 months ago)

Probably all apps that has some voip calling functionality.

Whatsapp, messenger, viber (is that still a thing?) and similar

Edit, just saw

Unless they provide call or alarm functionality

So they should be safe

Possibly some security related apps to auth for banking and stuff, not sure how they work behind the scenes.

Same goes for some 2FA apps i guess?

hemmes , 10 months ago

But they said unless they provide call functionality. So wouldn’t those VoIP apps not be affected?

trackd , 10 months ago

Yep, i did miss that but have updated my comment

AlmightySnoo OP , 10 months ago (edited 10 months ago)

I don’t install anything that has ads so I can’t confirm this, but I guess apps that show fullscreen ads?

trackd , 10 months ago

Its permissions for fullscreen notifications, i dont think many apps send ads that way. They can just show them fullscreen when your using the app.

to_urcite_ty_kokos , 10 months ago

I saw some pseudoviruses did that, interesting times 😵‍💫

AlmightySnoo OP , 10 months ago

Some apps already display ads as notifications I think? Won’t be crazy to imagine that there might be apps who’d do that using this fullscreen intent to show you a fullscreen ad even when your phone is locked, as if you had received a call. But again I’m probably outdated on this and just speculating, haven’t had a single app displaying ads since a very long time.

JohnEdwa , 10 months ago

They are used to push through the lockscreen e.g. when you get a call or when a timer finishes. I assume camera apps might also use it for the button shortcut (double-tapping the power button opens your camera in most Android phones). If the app doesn't do calls or alarms of some type, I can't really think of any valid reason why they would need that permission unless it's something weird like Tasker and you want it to.
Other permissions that are also "revoked by default" like this are using the accessibility services or drawing over the screen - you just need to have a popup in your app that says "the app needs <permission> to work, please enable it in the following screen" and then opens the settings page.