Google Play Updates Policies to Restrict Marijuana Sales and Loot Boxes
Google introduces strict new rules for its app store, banning in-app marijuana ordering and clamping down on loot boxes. The changes follow an FTC complaint and align with similar policies already enforced by Apple.
Google introduces a series of strict new policies for the Google Play Store that target marijuana delivery applications and loot boxes in games. The company explicitly bans apps from facilitating the sale or delivery of THC products through in-app shopping carts, requiring developers to move the actual purchasing process outside of the application. This approach mirrors existing rules on Apple's iOS platform, where informational marijuana apps remain allowed but direct ordering functions are prohibited.
The tech giant also cracks down on loot boxes, which represent a popular but controversial form of in-game gambling where players pay for random virtual items. Alongside these two major changes, Google expands its guidelines to detail further prohibitions regarding hate speech, sexual content, and counterfeit goods. These updated rules arrive shortly after an FTC complaint accuses the company of failing to properly monitor children's apps for privacy law compliance.
Google navigates a complex legal landscape regarding marijuana since state laws conflict with federal regulations, making it safer for the company to avoid acting as a middleman for controlled substances. However, Google does not intend to remove these popular applications entirely and provides a 30-day grace period for developers to comply. Company spokespersons state that Google actively works with affected developers to answer technical questions and ensure the transition occurs without disrupting customers.