[Android] Remove broad photo/video permissions and use a system picker - Google Play Policy deadline 2024-08

[ath0mas]

Feature Request

Motivation Behind Feature

Google Play will be Expanding Privacy Protections for Photo and Video permissions as announced in newsletter, news, and page.

Feature Description

The deadline is set to 2024-08-31! See Permissions and APIs that Access Sensitive Information entry in the Policy Deadlines table.

For a more privacy preserving experience for users, we’re introducing the Photo and Video Permissions policy to reduce the number of apps permitted to request broad photo/video permissions (READ_MEDIA_IMAGES and READ_MEDIA_VIDEO). Apps may only access photos and videos for purposes directly related to app functionality. Apps that have a one-time or infrequent need to access these files are requested to use a system picker, such as the Android photo picker.

• Preview: Permissions and APIs that Access Sensitive Information
• Details on Google Play's Photo and Video Permissions policy

Alternatives or Workarounds

Only apps which main functionality is to access to photos and videos will still be able to pass the Policy checks, and continue to use current APIs and permissions, while others won't be allowed and possibly be removed from Google Play.

[bmarsaud]

Couldn't we write the file to the scoped storage or the MediaStore.Downloads collection so that we don't have to request the READ_MEDIA_IMAGES and READ_MEDIA_VIDEO permissions as stated in this documentation ?

The use of a photo / system picker would kill the purpose of this plugin which is launch the camera, if I'm not mistaken.