Well, this is kinda strange. But it appears that Google Play is set up to send developers that you purchase apps from all your information. So what information does Google Play actually give to developers? Well according to Dan Nolan who is the developer of ‘Paul Keating Insult Generator’, he has a list in his developer dashboard of all the buyers of his app along with their address and email address. In addition, he also has the information of people that started to buy the app and then cancelled.
Dan Nolan believes that this is the same for every developer that has an app on Google Play, and every user that has bought the app. Which is probably true, because I saw a post similar to Dan Nolan’s on Google+ a few months back from another developer (I believe it was Chris Lacy from Action Launcher and Tweet Lanes). So it’s not so much a flaw, but a question of why? Developers don’t need all that information from users. At the most, they should be given your name (perhaps a link to your Google+ profile page instead) and your email address. Developers don’t need users addresses, right?
So what exactly is Google’s definition of sensitive personal information?
“a particular category of personal information relating to confidential medical facts, racial or ethnic origins, political or religious beliefs or sexuality.”
For now, every time you purchase an app, that developer will now have your address, full name and email address. But I strongly think that needs and should be changed. Unless you can give me a good reason why developers NEED your address? Now on the other hand, Google’s Payment terms for those that accept payments through Google Payment Corporation, specifically prohibit the seller from using a buyer’s information obtained through GPC. So basically, Google is giving developers a bunch of information that they can’t legally do anything with.
So are you upset with Google for giving developers this information about you? Let us know what you think in the comments below.
Update: It’s pointed out by many other developers that Google doesn’t give our your full address, just your city/town. Most likely for statistics.