Starting next year, all extensions for Chrome must indicate on the Chrome Web Store what data they collect and how it is processed. Providers who do not comply with this must expect their extensions to be removed and also blocked on end devices.

Under the name “Project Strobe “Google already started last year to tighten the guidelines for extensions to better protect user data. This included, for example, that permission may only be obtained if this is necessary for an expansion. Now follows a new guideline for developers, which says what they are allowed to do with the collected data – or rather not allowed to do. And that they have to publish information about it. According to the Chromium blog, users should understand how privacy is going.

Google prohibits the sale of data In the Chrome Web Store, developers must provide the information on data usage. They can be entered from now on, it is mandatory from January 2021. Another update of the guidelines also states that data may only be collected for the benefit of the user and in accordance with the purpose of the extension. Selling data is strictly prohibited. Using the data for advertising purposes as well as the transmission of any information for financial transactions and other resellers is also prohibited.

The disclosure also includes the exact data is possible – there will be a selection of categories for this. Developers must also confirm that they are following the new guidelines. How the correctness of the information is checked remains open.

From 18. January users can then view the information in the web store. Google will mark extensions by developers that have not met the requirements by then with a note.

Google had already created a new spam policy for Chrome extensions in the summer. Among other things, it was directed against purchased reviews, which could make extensions more visible in the web store. Extensions that are only there to load others and those that send unwanted notifications have been banned.

(emw)