Google bans apps that might be making you BREAK the law on BILLIONS of phones

CALL recording apps on Android will stop working as Google has announced a massive ban over fears people could be accidentally breaking the law.

The tech giant is worried such apps may be used illegally, as laws on the practice vary so widely across the world.

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Call recording is largely allowed, but in some places everyone involved in the conversation must be made aware and give consent, such as California and Germany.

In the UK, it’s not illegal to record a call without telling someone, provided it’s for your own use.

But If you sell a recording to a third party or release it to the public without consent from the other person, this enters murky legal waters and could be a criminal offence.

In the US, it gets even more complicated with different laws in each state.

In Arizona, for example, you can record a call if you own the phone account and are the bill payer.

But on top of all this, there are concerns these apps could breach privacy and security, so Google has decided to block them for good.

It’s not the first time call recording apps have been banned.

Previously, the firm blocked a part needed by developers to make recordings but they found a way around it.

Google will now cut off the loophole on May 11, rendering affected apps completely useless.

But there is a catch allowing a small number of apps to continue.

Built-in call recorders can continue

If your phone came with a call recording option built-in, they will be allowed to stay.

This means devices made by the likes of Google Pixel and Xiaomi can carry on providing it.

If you’re wondering why Google is banning it while allowing the feature on its own smartphones, there’s a reason.

Participants are notified that the call is recorded before it begins on the Pixel, making it more legally sound.

“If the app is the default dialler on the phone and also pre-loaded, accessibility capability is is not required to get access to the incoming audio stream, and hence, will not be in violation,” the Google announced.

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