This is ridiculous, and really a bad news for everyone as there’s no way to talk with an human
Original source is unfortunately on reddit, which I can’t link
The developer goes into the situation in a reddit thread.
I had got the same stalkerware policy. The problem was not the app itself but the description. In my case “friend” and “track” or “monitor” keyword can’t be used together.
If your app description includes “monitor” or “track”, don’t include any person related keywords such as “friend”, “people”, “human”. If not, google considers your app can monitor the somebody’s activity.
Google: Invests billions in AI language models
Also Google: can’t understand words have different meanings
It’s ridiculous how a well standing dev can just have an app removed with no warning or human investigation.
Google is the biggest stalker on the planet. Are they afraid of a little competition?
Stupid take to be honest, real people getting trafficked and stalked, domestic abuse victims being tracked for control by the abuser, and you think that’s fine because google has that data about you even though nobody can use it so why shouldn’t all apps be able to? Go to a women’s shelter, touch grass.
This issue is far more nuanced. No it’s not good Google has that data on you.
No it’s not fair that automatons caused a small developer to have their entire amount destroyed without a proper review.
Both things can be true.
https://github.com/d4rken-org/sdmaid-se
There’s also the new open source version that the developer has been building
I paid for that Pro through Playstore. There goes my purchase 😭
Thanks for sharing! Per rule 5 in the sidebar, we ask that original sources be submitted instead. If you could kindly update the submission body and title, it would be greatly appreciated.
Original source: https://www.reddit.com/r/androiddev/comments/15xj0ow/dev_account_terminated_after_12_years_for/
Or libreddit mirror: https://libreddit.domain.glass/r/androiddev/comments/15xj0ow/dev_account_terminated_after_12_years_for/
Ok I put the libreddit mirror as link
Idiot google policy banning a 12 year old account, which doesn’t even violate its policy. Maybe something a human review could’ve helped to cross-check if it really needed a ban. Either way sucks for the dev.
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Yes, unfortunately it was probably the only real cleaner on the store. Probably the google bot didn’t like that it was using accessibility controls to delete the cache of all apps (a regular app can’t do this without root, so it was simulating human action to browse app by app and click on “delete cache”)
One of the good ones for many years. One of the few great rooted apps I’d paid for and would install after every fresh rom flash.
I can confirm this has been a really good app for rooted users for years, also FOSS.
It’s just sad what Google did
Further to your edit, there is actually a newer version in development: https://github.com/d4rken-org/sdmaid-se.
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You might have a point if it was the only way to access Lemmy but it’s far from the only app available so I really fail to see how the prices are “abusive”.
Nobody is forcing you to use Sync, or even to pay for any of the subscriptions/one-time purchases.
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Please keep it civil.
Just purchased the Pro unlocker last sunday, What happen in those cases?
I assume you can still use it as is, you just can’t download it again from play store if you remove it
Thanks, refund already requested but I also installed SD Maid SE from F-Droid in any case.
But the refund will only hurt the dev, not Google
Or Google will keep and pocket all the money from a suspended dev account?
Google responded, they say the refund doesn’t justify more that 48 hours after the purchase, so they’ll just keep my money. The idea was to donate the money directly to Darken, didn’t wanted to let Google take it’s commission. But I think I’ll buy him a coffee anyway, I’m using the app since at least 2015, that’s the least I can do after all.
