In 2025, Google Play banned over 80,000 developer accounts and blocked 1.75 million policy-violating apps, reinforcing its commitment to user safety. This move is part of Google's ongoing effort to enhance security measures within its app ecosystem.
AI-Powered App Review
Google integrated generative AI models into its app review process, enabling faster detection of complex malicious patterns. This technology prevented over 255,000 apps from accessing sensitive user data excessively. Additionally, Play Protect scans more than 350 billion Android apps daily, identifying over 27 million new malicious apps outside Google Play.
Developer Tools and Protections
Google has enhanced developer tools such as Play Policy Insights in Android Studio, which provides real-time feedback on sensitive permissions. Expanded pre-review checks in Play Console help flag common issues before submission. The Play Integrity API performs over 20 billion daily checks, making device spoofing more difficult.
Fraud and Spam Prevention
Google's anti-spam protections blocked 160 million fake ratings and reviews, while enhanced fraud protection analyzed sideloaded apps to prevent financial fraud. In 2025, this protection blocked 266 million risky installation attempts. Google also introduced in-call scam protection to prevent users from disabling Play Protect during phone calls.
Looking ahead, Google plans to expand AI-driven defenses in 2026, aiming to help developers build more secure apps. Developer verification will be opened to all, including a dedicated account type for students and hobbyists, supporting legitimate developers and limiting repeat abuse.
