Google bans apps promoting medical misinformation from App Store

Google will now ban apps deemed to be promoting medical misinformation or impersonating government agencies, businesses, or companies from its mobile App Store.

The Big Tech company updated its guidelines on Wednesday for the Android App Store, including additional policies regarding the types of apps allowed on the platform. Most notably, the company is expanding its opposition to apps that it concludes are spreading medical misinformation.

"We don't allow apps containing misleading health claims that contradict existing medical consensus, or can cause harm to users," the guidelines read. These include apps providing misleading claims about vaccines, apps advocating unapproved treatments, and apps advocating conversion therapy.