Six principles of Google software

Six principles of Google software

Google has always wanted to improve user experience. We hope that we can make our own responsibilities and contributions to this goal through actual actions. Therefore, we have formulated six principles of Google software as a norm for our own behavior.

In addition, we strongly believe that these principles can bring benefits to network users across the industry and across the world, so we also encourage our partners to adopt these principles.

However, these principles are very broad. Software Design and release are complex processes, and technologies are constantly evolving. Therefore, some useful applicationsProgramThese principles may not be fully applied, and some fraudulent commercial activities may not be contained in them. This principle is just the beginning, focusing on Internet software and advertising. These guiding principles must be updated at any time to keep up with the ever-changing technological changes.

We look forward to discussing these issues with you and our partners. We will listen to your suggestions and improve and update our software principles. Please send comments to: software-principles@google.com.

Install

We believe that the software should not trick users into installation. When a user installs or activates a software on his or her own computer, he or she must have the right to choose not to install it. Applications should not be secretly installed on users' computers by hiding themselves in the middle of a program that the user is installing or upgrading. You must explicitly inform the user of the functions of each application even when bundling the installation.

Disclosure beforehand

When an application is installed or activated, it must describe its main and important functions to users. And if the app makes a profit by presenting ads to users, it should also be clearly and clearly stated. This type of information should be presented in a way that is visible and understandable to general users-rather than being drowned in small text, and must be displayed on the screen. For example, if an application receives compensation by presenting pop-up ads or transmitting users' personal data to a third party, it must be explained to the user.

Easy to delete

Users should be able to easily learn how to terminate or delete an application. This process should try to clear enough components in the application to terminate all of its functions, whether or not these functions can be perceived by the user, without disrupting the user's computer. Once an application is terminated or deleted, it shall not remain active or automatically activated after a period of time, or be activated by another program.

Action transparency

If an application affects or changes the user experience, inform the user that the application is the cause of these changes. For example, if an application opens a window, the name of the application that it represents should be indicated in the window. Applications should not intentionally hide themselves with multiple names or confusing names. The user shall be able to directly control these programs, such as by clicking the visual identifier generated by these applications.

If an application shows an advertisement to a user, it must clearly mark the corresponding information as an advertisement and inform the user of the application that generates the advertisement. If an application makes a change that affects the user experience of other applications (for example, setting the default homepage of the user browser), you must describe these changes to the user.

Message transmission prompt

If an application collects and transmits personal information such as the user's address, the user shall be notified. In our opinion, the user must be explicitly asked in advance and can only be sent with the user's consent. The inquiry must be clear about which information will be collected and transmitted. If you want to learn more, you should easily find the relevant privacy policy to describe how the information will be used and whether it will be shared with a third party.

Neighborhood

Application providers should not allow their products to be bound by other applications that do not comply with the preceding principles.

Many Internet users have discovered that over time, their computers are full of unsolicited software, including advertising software, spyware, and pure spam. This is because some of the applications they have installed are bundled with spam, and those spam programs themselves generate more garbage, so that the more they accumulate, the deeper they bury. In our opinion, in any case, as long as multiple applications are installed, we must clearly inform the user, even if someone asks the user after a few months, "What is this ?" Most of them still know where a program came from and why it was installed.

Under normal circumstances, there is a complex business relationship between companies involved in bundling. In some cases, some good-intentioned companies may benefit from the release of software that is not good for users or the revenue it generates. Fees are charged for releasing or paying for others. inviting others to release undesirable software only produces more undesirable software. Software producers or advertisers with good business ethics can prevent the release of such software by avoiding such business relationships-even if they are released through intermediary channels.

We believe that the elimination of this problem is beneficial to both users and the industry. For this reason, we will strive to publish our software products only in the bundle that complies with the above principles, and if this is the case for other companies in the industry, users will eventually benefit.