Bad news for anyone who records voice calls on their Android device (for whatever reason, we do not judge): As of May 11, Google will prevent third-party apps, such as those downloadable from Google Play Store, from recording calls, and even removing them completely from its store .
In fact, the possibility to use the official call recording API has already been removed from version 6 of Android (we are now already in version 12), but the various app developers have found ways and loopholes to get around this limitation, by using accessibility setting interfaces for people with disabilities.
Now it will be very difficult for keys to prove that their products are indeed designed to help people with disabilities, and it is likely that many apps will fade away.
According to Google, using the accessibility interface to record calls by apps that are not for people with disabilities is inappropriate, and henceforth "only apps that are designed and designed to help people with disabilities use their mobile devices, or to overcome the obstacles that disabilities pose to them, will be allowed On themselves as accessibility. "
Also, the official descriptions of the apps in the store will have to explicitly state which people with disabilities they are for, and the apps that do not meet the criteria will be removed from the store.
In general, the reason Google is "raiding" on the recalcitrant apps that allow call recording, including the popular Truecaller, is the protection of user privacy.
This is certainly understandable, as no one wants their conversations to leak and find their way to all sorts of dubious factors.
Also, in some countries it is not legal to record a conversation without knowing it, and Google wants to avoid this fundamental problem.
Despite this, there is no need to despair, because those who want to record calls can continue on their own, by using official and secure dialer apps for Android, which are installed by default on the devices of the leading manufacturers (Samsung, Shiomi, etc.).
On the other hand, it should be noted that this way may display a warning message that the call is being recorded.
Those who are still getting tangled up can follow the old fashioned way of the pre-smartphone era: just put the call on a speaker and record it "from the air" using another device, like another phone or even an executive tape recorder.
It reminds me of the past.
Were we wrong?
Fixed!
If you found an error in the article, we'll be happy for you to share it with us