The Google Play security system recently flagged the Russian navigation service 2GIS as potentially unsafe. This assessment came with references to statements from the 2GIS developers, reported by TASS, the Russian news agency. The incident highlights how app safety signals can trigger warnings that affect user trust and app availability across markets in North America and beyond. The sequence of events began when users of the 2GIS service in Russia started receiving alerts within Google Play warning that the application might compromise device safety. The warnings specifically suggested that 2GIS could access sensitive data on a smartphone, including SMS messages, photo libraries, voice recordings, and even call logs. Such claims can significantly affect user behavior and app adoption, especially for those relying on navigation and local business search capabilities in North American regions. [Attribution: TASS report cited by the source]
The developers of 2GIS responded in a public statement, denying any insecurity or data leakage associated with their app. They asserted that 2GIS remains fully reliable and safe for users, pointing out that the warnings are part of Google Play’s broader safety checks. The company emphasized that the identified risks were not specific to 2GIS alone but were part of a wider enforcement action affecting multiple apps temporarily unavailable on Google Play. This context helps explain why some users in Canada and the United States observed similar alerts for other apps during the same period. [Attribution: official 2GIS statement]
As of May 2023, 2GIS was temporarily removed from Google Play in many regions. The developers explained that this pause in availability was tied to Google Play’s generic compliance rules rather than an intrinsic flaw in the app itself. They noted that the temporary unavailability was not a unique incident but a procedural matter impacting several applications that failed to meet the platform’s immediate policy thresholds. This nuance is important for users who rely on 2GIS for maps and local business search, as it underscores how platform policy changes can affect access even when app developers maintain high safety standards. [Attribution: Google Play policy update]
The developers also clarified why the app requests permissions such as microphone access and call recording. They described these features as essential for enabling voice-controlled functionality and for facilitating direct searches for businesses on maps from within the 2GIS interface. The clarification aims to reassure users who may worry about privacy implications, particularly in markets where voice commands and hands-free operation are common. While these capabilities can enhance convenience, they also spark discussions about data minimization, consent, and transparent notification of how such data is processed. [Attribution: 2GIS explanation]
Security researchers and industry observers have noted that the incident coincided with broader breaches and data events in the region. Reports indicate that large-scale data disclosures and cyber incidents, including substantial data transfers, have affected some services and networks. The reference to a substantial data flow underscores the ongoing importance of robust security practices and continuous monitoring for apps that handle location data and personal identifiers. This broader context helps explain why platform safety signals are taken seriously by users across North America and Europe alike. [Attribution: industry observations]