Google announced today via the Google Chromium blog that it is making new changes to its Chrome Online App Store policy, aimed at removing spammy plugins from this largest market of browser extensions.
These policy changes won't take effect immediately, but they will impose stricter restrictions on what developers post on the store.
Google says that after the policy change, developers or their affiliates won't be able to release duplicate extensions, which are often just to attract more users.
These extensions must also not contain any "misleading, incorrectly formatted, irrelevant, excessive or inappropriate descriptions", instead, each application should have "clear and unambiguous instructions".
Also, which extensions that are only used to launch other applications or websites will no longer be allowed, and these extensions basically have little actual functionality.
At the same time, Google also stipulates that developers are no longer allowed to use recommendations without direct attribution, induce downloads, manipulate comments or swipe volume.
Finally, developers are also not allowed to abuse extensions by sending spam, ads, promotions, phishing or other harmful messages to users. The extension can no longer send messages on behalf of the user either. Unless permission is obtained from the user.
Google says it will provide developers with an update on the policy's requirements by August 27 this year, and once the policy is fully enacted, those found to be in violation will be removed and disabled.
