Starting next month, the company will ban all apps that secretly transmit peoples personal information without their knowledge, it announced Wednesday.

The announcement builds on Googles preexisting policy that broadly banned deceptive behavior in apps.

However, even under that policy, several stalkerware apps routinely slipped through the cracks.

Stalkerware apps are typically designed to be hidden or undetectable and can transmit information about what apps a person is using, who theyre in contact with, and the contents of their files and photo libraries.

However, Google will still allow parental control apps, which can carry out the same functions as stalkerware apps, possibly leaving a loophole open.

The difference is that apps will now have to display a persistent icon that tells users theyre being tracked, making it harder for them to operate in secret.

This week, the Google Play store also announced that it will ban apps that misrepresent or conceal their ownership or primary purpose.

It isnt immediately clear whether it applies to apps that present themselves as services like VPNs or Ad Blockers in order to get people to download them, and then mine information from peoples phones like their location or what other apps they use and sell that data.

A Google spokesperson did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

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