Embedded browsers are screens inside apps such as Gmail or social media apps like Instagram that open a web link inside their app without opening the default browser. Another unique example of the use of the Accessibility permission, is with embedded browsers. For users with privacy concerns in how we leverage the Accessibility permission, we only monitor key areas that we require to provide a safe and secure environment. We have always been upfront on why we require this permission – nothing deceptive was ever done, we are not a bad actor. Again, this approach is used by many apps for different purposes. Google did flag us for violating the policies of using the Accessibility API. Once detected, our service would block it with a full screen overlay to inform the child/user that the area they attempted to access is blocked (example below). For non-Samsung devices, we were using the Accessibility permission which allowed us to monitor the specific screen where the Device Administrator screen for Boomerang Parental Control could be detected. For Samsung users, thanks to Samsung Knox, we continue to be able to offer an identical experience as Family Link (greyed Deactivate button). So how is this different than Boomerang Parental Control?īoomerang Parental Control offered the same app uninstall protection but it is enabled optionally by the parent/guardian. This means the child cannot use the typical methods to uninstall the app from their Android device. Google’s approach results in a greyed out Deactivate button on the Device Administrator permission across all Android devices (see screenshot below). With Family Link, Google is able to leverage their own Mobile Device Management features, not available to third parties like us for the purposes of parental controls (as per update above, we are investigating how we can get approved for our purposes but the work involved will be substantial!). How do apps protect themselves on Android? Update August 14th 2020: Boomerang is available again on Google Play but we had to remove the prevent uninstall protection and are analyzing other potential approaches that Google has shared with us (none of our competitors have been flagged for this yet). Who else sees the blatant double standard here? Boomerang Parental Control has used the same approach for years and now we are fighting to get back on Google Play. Only then is the child’s device free of any restrictions preventing the easy removal of the app. In order to uninstall Family Link on the child device, you must enter the parent’s group password and remove the child’s account from the group. Google’s Family Link app does protect itself from tampering by kids. Yet Google’s own product management team who created Family Link, a competing parental control app, knows this as well. But Google’s “robots” (literally robots and human contractors) decided that kids don’t need this hurdle Ĭheck out our blog post: Is Google Evil? Our unjustified removal from Google Play. On Android child devices, this was possible by protecting the access to the Device Administrator permission. Our approach is an option (highly recommended of course) that is enabled by the parent/guardian with their full consent and understanding of what will occur if their child attempts to remove the monitoring app. It was also clear that the ability for our app (or any app) of protecting itself against easy removal was essential. One feature that evolved as a key requirement was parents wanted an app that didn’t involve the typical uninstall steps to remove an app on their Android child devices. This also adds peice of mind for parents.įeatures have continued to evolve over the years from basic screen time limits, web filtering and blocking apps to more elaborate features that help parents monitor their child’s communications for inappropriate or abusive behavior via text messages or social media platforms. It has become essential in putting on training wheels in the form of a screen time, safe calling, safe browsing monitoring app. Kids are receiving tablets as early as toddlers and phones as early as 10 years of age. Parental Controls have become an important toolkit in keeping track of what our kids do on their mobile devices.
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