Google updated its content policy on 22nd December and brought in a few more changes which are quite significant. To make it easy for developers, I am listing down all the major guidelines you must follow to avoid any suspension or termination.

1. TOP 20 MISTAKES DEVELOPERS MAKE
Beware! Google can ban your apps from Play Store: Avoid common pitfalls

2. Google updated its content policy on 22nd December
and brought in a few more changes which are quite
significant. To make it easy for developers, I am listing
down all the major guidelines you must follow to avoid
any suspension or termination:

3. Do not include user’s reviews in your App description

4. Do not include the name of other apps in your
description or in replies to reviews unless it’s in the
context

5. Do not ask user’s to revise their ratings, either directly
through replies or any other external means like emails
to users

6. Do not post your app’s link in competitor’s or any other
app’s reviews posing as a user

7. You cannot offer any incentive to users for ratings or
reviews

8. Do not repeat keywords, use unrelated keywords or
provide false information in your app description

9. Do not include any web view to pull someone else’s
content without permission inside your App

10. Do not trigger an SMS / email from inside your App
without showing the content to the user

11. No sexually explicit or erotic content. Give appropriate
rating (Low/Medium/High Maturity) based on your
content
Rating Assigned
By developer : Low

12. No ads in notifications

13. Do not place bookmarks in the browser or add another
app’s icon as a shortcut through your app

14. All Ad walls should have clearly marked close button

15. Include ad disclosure in your EULA if you are showing
advertisements in your App

16. Don’t promote your apps using deceptive ads (warn
your Ad-network partners)

17. Only Google Play’s in-app billing to be used for IAP for
virtual goods. 3rd party payments allowed only for
physical goods or services used outside of the phone

18. Android Advertising Identifier — use it only for
advertising & data analytics. Do not try to create user’s
identity using Advertising ID

19. Avoid copyright infringements, impersonation or any
trademark usage in your App, Images or description

20. Do not generate premium SMS from your App
Sent to 55544

21. Do not use system based icons or any other system
based UI impersonation in your App

22. Do not overlay your message/notification over other
apps

23. Thank You
• I hope this quick list will help you avoid these
common mistakes. In case you app is suspended
by Google for any reason, you can send an appeal
to google through this link
https://support.google.com/googleplay/android-
developer/contact/accountappeals
• I will be happy to hear your feedback on this. Feel
free to comment here or tag me on twitter
@deepakabbot or mail me at dabbot@gmail.com
• Check out my blog at
medium.com/@deepakabbot