Breaking: Google Removes Ad Blocking Apps from Google Play Store; Rooted Users Frown

[dgstorm]

If you are a rooted user, you might just grimace at this news. Apparently, Google just pulled all of the ad blocking apps from the Google Play Store. Apparently, ad blocker programs directly contradict one of Google's policies, but they hadn't really enforced it until now. Here's a quote with the TOS rule followed by Google's email to developers of ad blocking programs,

4.4 Prohibited Actions. You agree that you will not engage in any activity with the Market, including the development or distribution of Products, that interferes with, disrupts, damages, or accesses in an unauthorized manner the devices, servers, networks, or other properties or services of any third party including, but not limited to, Android users, Google or any mobile network operator. You may not use customer information obtained from the Market to sell or distribute Products outside of the Market.

Most of the ad blocking programs have been purged from the Play Store, and the developers were sent emails from Google explaining why. Here's the email statement from Google,

This is a notification that your application, Ad Blocker ★ Root ★, with package ID com.jrummy.apps.ad.blocker, has been removed from the Google Play Store.

REASON FOR REMOVAL: Violation of section 4.4 of the Developer Distribution Agreement.

After a regular review we have determined that your app interferes with or accesses another service or product in an unauthorized manner. This violates the provision of your agreement with Google referred to above.

All violations are tracked. Serious or repeated violations of any nature will result in the termination of your developer account, and investigation and possible termination of related Google accounts. If your account is terminated, payments will cease and Google may recover the proceeds of any past sales and/or the cost of any associated fees (such as chargebacks and transaction fees) from you.

If your developer account is still in good standing, you may revise and upload a new instance of the application that is compliant with the developer terms. Before uploading any new applications, please review the Developer Distribution Agreement and Content Policy.
If you feel we have made this determination in error, you can visit this Google Play Help Center article for additional information regarding this removal.

The Google Play Team

This just happened a short time ago, so we will try to share more details as they emerge.

Thanks for the tip, Mujibar!

 

[kroden]

Can anyone recommend any ad blockers that are still available if any?

 

[Traveller]

AdAway is available from the FDroid app installer available at F-Droid .

 

[kroden]

AdAway is available from the FDroid app installer available at F-Droid .

Thanks!

I'm new to Android, bought a Sumvision Cyclone Voyager for the kids so they don't steal my iPhone all the time.

I've downloaded fdroid and then Adaway, however it's saying I need to allow it access to root. Would you know how I can do that please?

 

[Traveller]

Virtually ALL ad blocking apps require root and without it, the apps are useless. You'll have to look around to see if someone has your tablet and has rooted it, because I don't have this tablet. Then again I tend to stay far away from Chinese tablets.