Google’s app ecosystem is under fresh scrutiny after new data revealed that nearly 90 percent of all Play Store submission requests were approved, even as more than 2 million apps were later removed for policy violations, fraud, and security risks.
Key Highlights
- 9 out of 10 Play Store submissions were approved despite later removals
- Google removed over 2 million apps in a year for policy violations
- Apple App Store removals more than doubled, hitting nearly 167,000 apps
- Fraud accounted for over half of Apple’s app removals
- Privacy and data protection violations dominated Google Play removals
- Experts warn users may still be exposed to unsafe apps after download
The figures point to a widening trust gap in mobile app distribution, where approval at the point of Play Store submission does not guarantee long-term safety or compliance.
According to recent industry analysis, both Google and Apple collectively removed about 2.2 million mobile applications from their platforms in the past year. While Google recorded a drop in total removals from 3.9 million to 2 million, Apple more than doubled its takedowns, removing over 166,000 apps, with fraud responsible for more than half of those cases.
Cybersecurity expert Justas Pukys, Senior Product Manager at Surfshark, warned that store approval can give users a false sense of security.
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He noted that many users assume apps are safe once they pass Play Store submission review, even though malicious software can still slip through and remain active until later detection.
Surfshark’s data shows Apple rejected 23 percent of app submissions in 2025, while Google Play rejected only about 8 percent, meaning most apps were published first and reviewed later through enforcement actions.
The most common reason for removals on Google Play was data protection and privacy violations, accounting for 44 percent of cases. This was followed by distribution of prohibited content or services at 35 percent, consumer information breaches at 13 percent, and fraud at 5 percent.
On Apple’s platform, fraud and obsolete software were the dominant causes of removal, with developers from multiple countries flagged in enforcement actions.
Experts also caution that removal from official stores does not automatically protect users already affected.
Many apps continue functioning on devices after takedown, although they stop receiving updates, leaving security gaps open. Without automatic alerts, users may remain exposed unless they actively review installed applications.
Pukys advised users to be more cautious, recommending careful review of app permissions, developer credibility, and user feedback before installation.
The findings raise broader questions about whether current Play Store submission processes are sufficient to protect users in an increasingly complex mobile ecosystem.
