Preview: Child endangerment

^{Disclaimer: Policy summaries and key considerations are overviews only; always refer to the full policy for compliance. The full policy takes precedence in case of conflict.}

Policy preview

This article previews changes included in our July 2026 policy updates.

We're expanding our child safety standards policy to apply to anonymous chat and random chat apps.

(effective from 26 August 2026)

To view the current 'Child endangerment' article, visit this page.

Policy Summary

Google Play has a zero-tolerance policy for child sexual abuse and exploitation (CSAE). All apps must not contain or promote content that endangers children. This includes apps that appeal to children but contain adult themes. Further, social and dating apps must follow the child safety standards policy. Failure to comply will result in immediate removal. Please review the full policy to ensure compliance.

Full Policy

Apps that do not prohibit users from creating, uploading or distributing content that facilitates the exploitation or abuse of children will be subject to immediate removal from Google Play. This includes all child sexual abuse material. To report content on a Google product that may exploit a child, click Report abuse. If you find content elsewhere on the Internet, please contact the appropriate agency in your country directly. 

We prohibit the use of apps to endanger children. This includes, but is not limited to the use of apps to promote predatory behaviour towards children, such as:

• Inappropriate interaction targeted at a child (for example, groping or caressing).
• Child grooming (for example, befriending a child online to facilitate, either online or offline, sexual contact and/or exchanging sexual imagery with that child).
• Sexualisation of a minor (for example, imagery that depicts, encourages or promotes the sexual abuse of children or the portrayal of children in a manner that could result in the sexual exploitation of children).
• Sextortion (for example, threatening or blackmailing a child by using real or alleged access to a child’s intimate images).
• Trafficking of a child (for example, advertising or solicitation of a child for commercial sexual exploitation).

We will take appropriate action, which may include reporting to the National Centre for Missing and Exploited Children, if we become aware of content with child sexual abuse material. If you believe that a child is in danger of or has been subject to abuse, exploitation or trafficking, please contact your local law enforcement and contact a child safety organisation listed here.

In addition, apps that appeal to children but contain adult themes are not allowed, including, but not limited to:

• Apps with excessive violence, blood and gore.
• Apps that depict or encourage harmful and dangerous activities.

We also don’t allow apps that promote negative body or self-image, including apps that depict for entertainment purposes plastic surgery, weight loss and other cosmetic adjustments to a person's physical appearance.

Child safety standards policy

Google Play requires anonymous chat, random chat, social and dating apps to comply with our child safety standards policy.

These apps must:

• Have published standards: Your app must explicitly prohibit child sexual abuse and exploitation (CSAE) in publicly accessible standards, such as your app's Terms of Service, community guidelines or any other publicly available user policy documentation.
• Provide an in-app mechanism for user feedback: You must self-certify that you provide a mechanism within your app for users to submit feedback, concerns or reports in your app.
• Address CSAM: You must self-certify that your app takes appropriate action, including, but not limited to, removing CSAM after obtaining actual knowledge of it, in accordance with your published standards and relevant laws.
• Comply with child safety laws: You must self-certify that your app complies with applicable child safety laws and regulations, including, but not limited to, having a process in place to report confirmed CSAM to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children or your relevant regional authority.
• Provide a child safety point of contact: Your app must provide a designated point of contact to receive potential notifications from Google Play about CSAE content found in your app or on your platform. This representative must be positioned to speak to your enforcement, review procedures and take action if required.

Learn more here about these requirements and how to comply in our Help Centre article.

Key considerations

Do	Don't
Ensure that your app does not contain or facilitate child sexual abuse material (CSAM) or endanger children.	Don't allow the creation, upload or distribution of content that facilitates child exploitation.
Remove inappropriate content such as adult themes, excessive violence or content that promotes negative body image.	Don't use your app to befriend a child for sexual purposes or to exchange sexual imagery.
Comply with child safety standards, including social or dating apps.	Don't fail to comply with the Child Safety Standards policy.
Report abuse. If you find content that exploits children, report it to authorities.	Don't ignore reports. You must take appropriate action on all reports of CSAE and CSAM.