14 DAY TRIAL // Yesterday, Google announced an update to its terms of service for the Chrome Web Store that will force extension makers to be more frank about their intentions and even remove some data-slurping add-ons if the don't comply with the new rules.
The Web Store has become the biggest extension store in the browser world, far above Mozilla's Add-ons Portal. Its tremendous success has allowed Chrome to become today's top browser by providing tools with which users could expand their regular Web browsing experience.
But as with any popular service, cyber-crime and shady dealers have also followed, a problem that has been spotted again and again. Extensions developers haven't shied away from creating malicious apps and using them to defraud users, or from secretly collecting their data and later selling it to online advertisers.
While, for the first category, Google has no option than to remove their apps from the Web Store, for years, it has been lenient with extensions makers that are a little grabby with the users' data.
Extensions must warn users about the data they collect
Yesterday's update is Google taking a step in the right direction and giving extension developers a fair warning about its plans. The company updated its Chrome Web Store policy, so from now on, extension developers must include a privacy policy with their tools and also handle private data via an encrypted channel by default.
Additionally, all extensions must ask users for consent prior to installation about all the information they plan to collect if this collection mechanism is not somewhat inferred by the extension's main purpose or prominent feature.
Google says that developers have until July 14 to update their extensions and that, on July 15, its moderators will start removing any extension they see breaking these rules and abusing Google's users.
On a side note, Android users have something to wait for on Monday, April 18, 2016, after the company announced that Google Play Music would include a special section for podcasts. Podcasts have always been a popular feature on Apple's store, and one of Soundcloud's hidden secrets.