Google lets developers lock out smartphones with root access for apps

Google is making changes to the Play Console that will allow developers to not display apps in the Play Store on smartphones that do not comply with SafetyNet attestation. This appears to apply Netflix to prevent installation on smartphones with root access.

Google announced enhancements to the Play Console capabilities at Google I/O on Wednesday. New is the addition Device Catalog, with which developers can indicate which devices can and cannot find their apps in the Play Store. They can make this dependent on the soc of the smartphone, the amount of ram, but also whether or not the integrity test of the SafetyNet attestation is met. Developers can check if they are dealing with real Android device.

If smartphones fail the integrity test for SafetyNet, those devices can be locked out is one of the options. AndroidPolice notes the similarities with the message that Netflix no longer accepts installations of smartphones with root access and custom ROMs: those smartphones will no longer see the Netflix app in the Store.