Unless the app is updated to comply with new privacy policy

Jun 27, 2019 08:01 GMT  ·  By

Google has started reaching out to users to warn that some apps could lose access to services powered by their Google accounts as part of a new privacy policy update that comes into effect on July 15.

One of the apps that could thus be blocked from accessing services like Gmail could be none other than SwiftKey, one of the top mobile keyboard apps on Android and iOS.

Microsoft-owned SwiftKey seeks permissions that are no longer allowed by Google, and unless the app is updated before July 15 to comply with these requirements, it could be banned from running on Google services.

Google’s new app policy states the following:

“Don't request access to information that you don't need. Only request access to the minimal, technically feasible scope of access that is necessary to implement existing features or services in your application, and limit access to the minimum amount of data needed. Don't attempt to "future proof" your access to user data by requesting access to information that might benefit services or features that have not yet been implemented.”

Microsoft likely to update SwiftKey

SwiftKey, however, wants permissions to view, manage and permanently delete mail in Gmail, create, update, and delete labels, and compose and send new email.

As per BP, the email that Google now sends to users warns that apps that fail to comply with the new policy by mid-July will be blocked from working on Google services.

“Although you don't need to do anything, we wanted to let you know that the following apps may no longer be able to access some data in your Google Account, including your Gmail content. If these apps are unable to meet the deadline to comply with our updated data policy requirements, they'll lose access to your Account starting July 15th, 2019,” the email reads.

Microsoft hasn’t offered a statement on this change, but the company is likely to update SwiftKey to comply with the new requirements anytime soon.