Google Play Compliance

Apps using background location must comply with Google Play's policies. Non-compliance will result in app rejection or removal from the store.

This guide covers all requirements for publishing an app that uses @gabriel-sisjr/react-native-background-location.

Overview of Requirements

Requirement	Description	Consequence of Missing
In-App Disclosure	Prominent dialog explaining background usage	Rejection
Privacy Policy	Explicit mention of location collection	Rejection
Data Safety Form	Declare location in Play Console	Rejection
Permissions Declaration	Submit justification form	Rejection
Core Functionality	Background location must be essential	Rejection

Step 1: In-App Disclosure (Required)

Google requires a prominent disclosure shown before requesting background location permission.

Requirements

The disclosure must:

• Be shown before the permission request
• Be a blocking dialog (not a toast, snackbar, or inline text)
• Clearly explain what data is collected
• Explain why background access is needed
• Explain how the data is used
• Allow the user to decline

Implementation

import { Alert } from 'react-native';

/**
 * Shows required disclosure before requesting background location.
 * Returns true if user accepts, false if they decline.
 */
async function showLocationDisclosure(): Promise<boolean> {
  return new Promise((resolve) => {
    Alert.alert(
      'Background Location Access',

      'This app collects your location data even when the app is closed or not in use.\n\n' +
        'WHY WE NEED THIS:\n' +
        'To track your trips and routes accurately, we need to collect your location in the background.\n\n' +
        'WHAT WE COLLECT:\n' +
        '• GPS coordinates\n' +
        '• Timestamps\n' +
        '• Movement speed\n\n' +
        'HOW WE USE IT:\n' +
        '• Record your travel routes\n' +
        '• Calculate trip distances and duration\n' +
        '• Provide real-time fleet management updates\n' +
        '• Track delivery routes and estimated arrival times\n' +
        '• Record fitness activities such as running and cycling\n\n' +
        'You can stop tracking at any time from within the app.',

      [
        {
          text: 'Decline',
          onPress: () => resolve(false),
          style: 'cancel',
        },
        {
          text: 'Accept & Continue',
          onPress: () => resolve(true),
        },
      ],
      { cancelable: false }
    );
  });
}

// Usage - MUST be called before permission request
async function handleEnableTracking() {
  // Step 1: Show disclosure
  const accepted = await showLocationDisclosure();

  if (!accepted) {
    Alert.alert(
      'Permission Required',
      'Background location is required for trip tracking. You can enable it later in Settings.'
    );
    return;
  }

  // Step 2: Request permissions (after disclosure accepted)
  const granted = await requestLocationPermissions();

  if (granted) {
    // Step 3: Start tracking
    await startTracking();
  }
}

Make sure you have import { startTracking } from '@gabriel-sisjr/react-native-background-location'; at the top of the file.

Custom Disclosure Screen (Recommended)

For a better user experience, create a dedicated disclosure screen instead of a simple alert:

import React from 'react';
import { View, Text, Button, ScrollView, StyleSheet } from 'react-native';

interface LocationDisclosureScreenProps {
  onAccept: () => void;
  onDecline: () => void;
}

function LocationDisclosureScreen({ onAccept, onDecline }: LocationDisclosureScreenProps) {
  return (
    <ScrollView contentContainerStyle={styles.container}>
      <Text style={styles.title}>Location Access Required</Text>

      <View style={styles.section}>
        <Text style={styles.sectionTitle}>What We Collect</Text>
        <Text style={styles.bullet}>• Your GPS location coordinates</Text>
        <Text style={styles.bullet}>• Timestamps of each location</Text>
        <Text style={styles.bullet}>• Speed and direction of movement</Text>
      </View>

      <View style={styles.section}>
        <Text style={styles.sectionTitle}>When We Collect</Text>
        <Text style={styles.body}>
          We collect your location even when the app is closed or running in the
          background. This is necessary for accurate trip tracking.
        </Text>
      </View>

      <View style={styles.section}>
        <Text style={styles.sectionTitle}>How We Use Your Data</Text>
        <Text style={styles.bullet}>• Record your travel routes</Text>
        <Text style={styles.bullet}>• Calculate trip distances</Text>
        <Text style={styles.bullet}>• Generate trip statistics</Text>
        <Text style={styles.bullet}>• [Your specific uses]</Text>
      </View>

      <View style={styles.section}>
        <Text style={styles.sectionTitle}>Your Control</Text>
        <Text style={styles.body}>
          You can stop tracking at any time from the app. You can also revoke
          location permission in your device settings.
        </Text>
      </View>

      <View style={styles.buttonContainer}>
        <Button title="Decline" onPress={onDecline} color="#888" />
        <View style={styles.buttonSpacer} />
        <Button title="Accept & Continue" onPress={onAccept} />
      </View>
    </ScrollView>
  );
}

const styles = StyleSheet.create({
  container: { padding: 20 },
  title: { fontSize: 24, fontWeight: 'bold', marginBottom: 20 },
  section: { marginBottom: 20 },
  sectionTitle: { fontSize: 18, fontWeight: '600', marginBottom: 8 },
  body: { fontSize: 16, lineHeight: 22 },
  bullet: { fontSize: 16, marginLeft: 10, marginBottom: 4 },
  buttonContainer: { flexDirection: 'row', marginTop: 20 },
  buttonSpacer: { width: 20 },
});

Step 2: Privacy Policy (Required)

Your privacy policy must explicitly address location data collection.

Required Elements

Your privacy policy must include:

1. What data is collected -- GPS coordinates, timestamps, any derived data (speed, distance)
2. When it's collected -- While in foreground, while in background, when app is closed
3. How it's used -- Primary purpose (trip tracking), any secondary uses, whether shared with third parties
4. Retention period -- How long data is stored locally, how long on servers, when it's deleted
5. User rights -- How to view their data, how to request deletion, how to stop collection

Sample Privacy Policy Section

## Location Data

### What We Collect

We collect precise location data (GPS coordinates) from your device, including:

- Latitude and longitude coordinates
- Timestamps of each location point
- Speed and direction of movement
- Altitude (when available)

### When We Collect

Location data is collected:

- While the app is open and in use
- While the app is running in the background
- Even when the app is closed (if tracking is enabled)

### Why We Collect

We collect location data to:

- Track and record your trips
- Calculate trip distances and duration
- Generate route maps and statistics

### How Long We Keep It

- Local device: Until you delete the trip or clear app data
- Our servers: [Your retention period, e.g., "90 days" or "Until you request deletion"]

### Your Rights

You can:

- Stop location collection at any time by stopping tracking in the app
- Delete individual trips and their location data
- Request complete deletion of your data by contacting [your email]
- Revoke location permission in your device settings

Step 3: Play Console -- Data Safety Form

In the Google Play Console, navigate to App content > Data safety.

Location Data Declaration

Declare the following:

Question	Answer
Does your app collect location data?	Yes
Is this data collected, shared, or both?	Collected (and Shared if applicable)
Is this data processed ephemerally?	No (it's stored)
Is this data required for your app?	Yes
Why is this data collected?	App functionality

Data Types to Declare

• Approximate location: Yes (if using BALANCED_POWER_ACCURACY or lower)
• Precise location: Yes (if using HIGH_ACCURACY)

Data Handling

Question	Answer
Is data encrypted in transit?	Yes (if using HTTPS)
Can users request data deletion?	Yes (provide mechanism)

Step 4: Play Console -- Permissions Declaration

For ACCESS_BACKGROUND_LOCATION, you must submit a declaration form.

Navigation

1. Go to Play Console
2. Select your app
3. Navigate to App content > Sensitive app permissions
4. Find Background location access
5. Click Manage

Form Fields

Core Functionality Description

Explain why background location is essential:

Trip tracking is the core functionality of our app. Users start a trip and
expect their route to be recorded continuously, even when:
- The phone screen is off
- The app is minimized
- The user is using other apps

Without background location access, trips would have large gaps in the route,
making the tracking feature unusable and defeating the primary purpose of the app.

User-Facing Feature Description

Users can:
1. Start a trip from the app
2. Put their phone away (screen off, app minimized)
3. Travel to their destination
4. Open the app to see their complete route

The continuous background tracking ensures no part of the journey is missed.

Video Demonstration

Record a video showing:

1. Opening the app
2. The disclosure dialog being shown
3. Granting permissions
4. Starting a trip
5. Minimizing the app / turning off screen
6. Moving around (can simulate with emulator)
7. Reopening the app
8. Showing the recorded route

Tips:

• Keep it under 2 minutes
• Show the notification is visible
• Show the route being recorded accurately
• Demonstrate this is a core feature, not optional

Step 5: Foreground-Only Alternative

If background location is not essential to your app, use foreground-only mode:

import { startTracking } from '@gabriel-sisjr/react-native-background-location';

// No background permission required
const tripId = await startTracking(undefined, {
  foregroundOnly: true,
});

Benefits:

• Simpler permission flow
• No permissions declaration form
• Easier Play Store approval

Limitations:

• Tracking stops when app is backgrounded
• Gaps in route when user switches apps

Common Rejection Reasons

Reason	Solution
"Disclosure not prominent"	Use blocking Alert/Modal, not inline text
"Disclosure shown after permission"	Show disclosure BEFORE calling requestPermissions
"Background location not essential"	Better explain core functionality or use foregroundOnly
"Missing privacy policy disclosure"	Update privacy policy with location section
"Video doesn't show feature"	Re-record showing complete user flow
"Explanation too vague"	Be specific about what, when, why for location

Checklist Before Submission

In-App

• Disclosure dialog shown before permission request
• Disclosure explains what, when, why
• User can decline disclosure
• Permission requested in two steps (Android 11+)
• Foreground service notification is clear

Privacy Policy

• Location collection mentioned
• Background collection mentioned
• Usage purposes listed
• Retention period stated
• Deletion mechanism described

Play Console

• Data safety form completed
• Location data declared
• Permissions declaration form submitted
• Demonstration video uploaded
• Core functionality explanation provided

Testing Before Submission

1. Fresh install test: Uninstall app, install from Play Console internal testing
2. Permission flow test: Verify disclosure > permission > tracking flow
3. Background test: Verify tracking works when app is backgrounded
4. Kill test: Verify data persists when app is killed

See Also

• Background Location Tracking -- Implementation guide
• Permissions -- Permission setup and hooks
• App Store Compliance -- iOS equivalent requirements
• Android Background Location Policy -- Official Google documentation