We have observed a change in behavior when publishing new apps to Google Play. During the initial Startup workflow at the Verify and Publish step, the publish is failing with errors like these:
Google Api Error: Invalid request - This app has no privacy policy.
Google Api Error: Invalid request - This app has no data safety declaration.
Normally, during the publishing of an app for the first time, these sections of the App Content information is filled out manually during the Make It Live step.
I have filed an issue with the fastlane, the software package we use to upload Google Play Listing information to Google Play. For the meantime, you will need to complete the instructions in the Make It Live step before completing the Verify and Publish step. If this change is permanent, then I will have to change the workflows so that these instructions are included in the Verify and Publish step.
For your reference, here are the instructions from the Make It Live Step:
- Go to Google Play Developer Console and sign in.
- Select Store presence under the Grow section in the menu on the left. This will expand the items below it.
- Select Store settings in the menu on the left and do the following:
-
- Set Category to Books & Reference (or appropriate category)
- Click on Manage tags link and set appropriate tags (e.g. Religious text) and click the Apply button at the bottom of the page.
- Set Email address
- Set Website (optional)
- Click the Save button at the bottom of the page.
- Select App content under the Policy section in the menu on the left and do the following:
- Under the Privacy policy section, click the Start link.
- Fill in the URL for your app’s privacy policy.
- For an example, see the Wycliffe Scripture App Privacy Policy
- Click the Save button at the bottom of the page.
- Click the App content link at the top of the page to go back.
- Under the Ads section, click the Start link.
- Click on No, my app does not contain ads radio button.
- Click the Save button at the bottom of the page.
- Click the App content link at the top of the page to go back.
- Under the App access section, click the Start link.
- Click the appropriate1 radio button based on features used in the app.
- Click the Save button at the bottom of the page.
- Click the App content link at the top of the page to go back.
- Under the Content ratings section, click the Start link.
- Click the Start questionnaire button and complete the questionnaire.
- Click the Save button at the bottom of the page.
- Click the Next button at the bottom of the page.
- Review the ratings applied and then click the Submit button at the bottom of the page.
- Click the App content link at the top of the page to go back.
- Under the Target audience and content section, click the Start link.
- Check the appropriate2 Target age groups for the app (we suggest 13-15, 16-17, and 18 and over).
- Click the Next button at the bottom of the page.
- For the Appeals to children option, click the No radio button.
- Click the Next button at the bottom of the page.
- Click the Save button at the bottom of the page.
- Click the App content link at the top of the page to go back.
- Under the News apps section, click the Start link.
- Click on No, my app does not contain ads radio button.
- Click the Save button at the bottom of the page.
- Click the App content link at the top of the page to go back.
- Under the COVID-19 contract tracing and status apps section, click the Start link.
- Click on the My app is not a publicly available COVID-19 contact tracing or status app checkbox.
- Click the Save button at the bottom of the page.
- Click the App content link at the top of the page to go back.
- Under the Privacy policy section, click the Start link.