Last year, restricted by an executive order of the U.S. government, Google was banned from cooperating with Huawei to develop new devices including preinstall Android and provide applications and services including Gmail, Maps, YouTube and Play Store.
In a post on Friday, Google Play and Android Legal Director Tristan Ostrowski clarified the ongoing disputes with Huawei.
Google's claims remain confusing as to which products are restricted by the ban. For example, whether Huawei devices released before May 16, 2019 can still use Google apps and related services.
Ostrowski wrote: " Our focus has been protecting the security of Google users on the millions of existing Huawei devices around the world. We have continued to work with Huawei, in compliance with government regulations, to provide security updates and updates to Google's apps and services on existing devices, and we will continue to do so as long as it is permitted. "
However, what happened after this time point is a bit confusing: " Play Protect certified devices go through a rigorous security review and compatibility testing process, performed by Google, to ensure user data and app information are kept safe. They also come from the factory with our Google Play Protect software, which provides protection against the device being compromised. "
In light of this, Google warned customers using the new Huawei devices don't try to load Gmail, YouTube, Play Store or other software onto those uncertified devices because the company can no longer guarantee the hardware Is it secure, and is it malware.
"Sideloaded Google apps will not work reliably because we do not allow these services to run on uncertified devices where security may be compromised. Sideloading Google's apps also carries a high risk of installing an app that has been altered or tampered with in ways that can compromise user security."
Obviously, Google is trying to downplay political influence, but it also strongly discourages people from maintaining access to the company's popular services through other channels.
At the end of the support article, Ostrowski also gave users an overview of how to check if their Android device has passed Google Security Certification (Menu-> Settings-> Play Protect Certification).
Here is the full post:
Answering your questions on Huawei devices and Google services.
On May 16, 2019, the US government placed Huawei on its Entity List. This government action prohibits all US companies, including Google, from collaborating with Huawei.
This means that Google is prohibited from working with Huawei on new device models or providing Google's apps including Gmail, Maps, YouTube, the Play Store and others for preload or download on these devices.
Our focus has been protecting the security of Google users on the millions of existing Huawei devices around the world. We have continued to work with Huawei, in compliance with government regulations, to provide security updates and updates to Google's apps and services on existing devices, and we will continue to do so as long as it is permitted. To be clear: US law currently allows Google to only work with Huawei on device models available to the public on or before May 16, 2019.
We have continued to receive a number of questions about new Huawei devices (e.g., new models launching now, or earlier models launched after May 16, 2019 but now becoming available in new regions of the world) and whether Google's apps and services can be used on these devices. We wanted to provide clear guidance to those asking these important questions.
Due to government restrictions, Google's apps and services are not available for preload or sideload on new Huawei devices.
To protect user data privacy, security, and safeguard the overall experience, the Google Play Store, Google Play Protect, and Google's core apps (including Gmail, YouTube, Maps, and others) are only available on Play Protect certified devices.
Play Protect certified devices go through a rigorous security review and compatibility testing process, performed by Google, to ensure user data and app information are kept safe. They also come from the factory with our Google Play Protect software, which provides protection against the device being compromised.
This has been our long-standing approach to user security and privacy and is applied consistently across all device manufacturers.
Because of the government restrictions described above, new Huawei device models made available to the public after May 16, 2019 have not been able to go through this security process nor will they have Play Protect preloaded. As a result, they are considered “uncertified,” and will not be able to utilize Google's apps and services.
In addition, sideloaded Google apps will not work reliably because we do not allow these services to run on uncertified devices where security may be compromised. Sideloading Google's apps also carries a high risk of installing an app that has been altered or tampered with in ways that can compromise user security.
To check if your device is certified, open the Google Play Store app on your Android phone, tap “Menu” and look for “Settings.” You will see if your device is certified under “Play Protect certification.” You can learn more on android.com/certified.
-Tristan Ostrowski, Android & Play Legal Director
