Google Play used AI to help block 1.75 million bad apps in 2025
Source: Engadget
AI‑powered app blocking
Google announced that with the help of AI, it blocked 1.75 million apps that violated its policies in 2025, down from 2.36 million in 2024. The lower numbers are attributed to “AI‑powered, multi‑layer protections” deterring bad actors. Google now runs more than 10,000 safety checks on every app and rechecks them after publication. Its use of the latest generative AI models helps human reviewers discover malicious patterns more quickly.
The company also blocked 160 million spam ratings, preventing an average 0.5‑star rating drop for apps targeted by review bombing. Additionally, Google stopped 255 000 apps from gaining excessive access to sensitive user data in 2025, down from 1.3 million the year before.
Play Protect results
Google Play Protect, the Android defense system, sniffed out over 27 million new malicious apps, either warning users or preventing them from running. Play Protect’s enhanced fraud protection now covers 2.8 billion Android devices in 185 markets and blocked 266 million risky “side‑loading” installation attempts.
Future plans
“Initiatives like developer verification, mandatory pre‑review checks, and testing requirements have raised the bar for the Google Play ecosystem, significantly reducing the paths for bad actors to enter,” the company said in its blog. “This year, we’ll continue to invest in AI‑driven defenses to stay ahead of emerging threats and equip Android developers with the tools they need to build apps safely.”
Regulatory context
Google has justified its relatively high fees on app purchases and subscriptions by highlighting its investments in app safety. However, the Play Store faces pressure from regulators in Europe and other regions that view it as a monopoly. Last year, Google changed its fee structure for developers using alternative payment channels, but EU regulators recently claimed the company still isn’t complying with Digital Markets Act regulations.
Source: Engadget article
Original announcement: Google Security Blog