Android 11
Android 11 brings privacy changes around location permission that warrant a close look and will require developer action.
If your app is not fully equipped for Android 10, also see our Android 10 guide.
Changes Relevant to The Zendrive SDK
The following policies will be in effect in Android 11.
Apps may not access location data after it is no longer necessary to deliver current features or services in your app.
You should never request location permissions from users for the sole purpose of advertising or analytics. Apps that extend permitted usage of this data for serving advertising must be in compliance with their ads policy.
Apps should request the minimum scope necessary to provide the current feature or service requiring location and users should reasonably expect that the feature or service needs the level of location requested.
Background location may only be used to provide features beneficial to the user and relevant to the core functionality of the app.
Impact on All Customers
To accommodate these policies, Zendrive has applied required changes to the SDK. You must modify your permission flow in your app. You will need to request only foreground access first, and then background access later.
Also, as part of their policy, the Play Store will have a mandatory app review process. In this review process, apps will have to justify their continued use of location permissions in general and background location access in particular.
Below, we’ve provided some recommendations.
Recommended Actions
Location Permission Flow
For our in-house app Copilot, we use the following user flow:
Check for location permission when the app is opened. Prompt the user if “Allow All the Time” access is unavailable.
Ask the user to select “While Using the App” in the location permission dialog box.
Prompt the user that the app needs “Allow All the Time” access.
Direct them to the app location settings.
Check if the permission is granted.
If yes, confirm to the user and enable app features.
If no, prompt the user again.
We recommend the following text:
If you primarily use our mileage features: "Without background location access, <appname> cannot record trips correctly. This may affect customer mileage and expenses."
If you primarily use our driving events and score features: "Without background location access, <appname> cannot record trips correctly. This may affect customer driving analysis and scores, which impacts our business services and offers we make to customers."
If you primarily use our safety features and collision detection: “Without background location access, <appname> cannot record trips correctly. This may affect safety features and collision detection."
Play Store App Review Process
Coming soon.
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