[Android Apps and Games] 3c:
30 Day notification: requirements for use of Accessibility services

Dear users, today I received 7 of those notifications, applying to those apps: Toolbox (Pro), System Tuner (Pro), Task Manager and Process Monitor (Pro)

As that service is not used to help users with disabilities (as described below), I have no choice but to remove that permission within the next 30-days. And it means my apps will not be able to get that permission at all, even with manually granting it from ADB (that's how Greenify, published on Play Store, is actually doing it).

FWIW, that permission is used on non-rooted device to be able to force-stop apps automatically.

EDIT: I've made an update that tries to be 100% compliant with Google's policies:

- Added android:summary description, something that is only visible on Android 8.0 by the way.

- Added sentence in app's description: "This app uses Accessibility services to help you stop apps on non-rooted devices, but will never ever collect any information."

If I receive further notifications, I'll have no other choice than remove this feature altogether (applies to non-rooted devices only).

We’re contacting you because your app, 3C Toolbox Pro, with package name ccc71.at is requesting the ‘android.permission.BIND_ACCESSIBILITY_SERVICE.’ Apps requesting accessibility services should only be used to help users with disabilities use Android devices and apps. Your app must comply with our Permissions policy and the Prominent Disclosure requirements of our User Data policy.

Action required: If you aren’t already doing so, you must explain to users how your app is using the ‘android.permission.BIND_ACCESSIBILITY_SERVICE’ to help users with disabilities use Android devices and apps. Apps that fail to meet this requirement within 30 days may be removed from Google Play. Alternatively, you can remove any requests for accessibility services within your app. You can also choose to unpublish your app.

If you need to make changes to your apps, please follow these steps:

•	Read through the Permissions and User Data policies for more details, and make sure your app complies with all policies listed in the Developer Program Policies.

•	If you don’t need the BIND_ACCESSIBILITY_SERVICE permission in your app or the permission is being used for something other than helping users with disabilities use Android devices and apps:

1.	Remove your request for this permission from your app’s manifest.

2.	Sign in to your Play Console and upload your modified, policy-compliant APK.

•	Or, if you need the BIND_ACCESSIBILITY_SERVICE permission in your app to help users with disabilities use Android devices and apps:

1.	Include the following snippet in your app’s store listing description: “This app uses Accessibility services.”

2.	Provide prominent user-facing disclosure of this usage before asking the user to enable this permission within your app. Your disclosure must meet each of the following requirements:

	Disclosure must be provided via the android:summary and android:description elements of the AccessibilityServiceInfo class

	Disclosure must describe the functionality that the Accessibility Service permission is enabling for your app. Each feature used with the Accessibility Service request must be declared in your disclosure with justification.

Alternatively, you can choose to unpublish the app.

All violations are tracked. Serious or repeated violations of any nature will result in the termination of your developer account, and investigation and possible termination of related Google accounts.