Google today announced changes that’ll make it easier for you to discover new Android apps that you’ll love.
Starting today, Google is rolling out “improved detection and filtering systems” aimed at fighting developers that try to boost their app’s install numbers, reviews, and ratings. “If an install is conducted with the intention to manipulate an app's placement on Google Play, our systems will detect and filter it,” Google explained.
Google also notes that if it discovers that a developer continues to use fraudulent app installs and reviews to boost their app’s presence, that dev could have their app removed from the Play Store.
Google already uses content discovery systems to weed out these fraudulent app installs and reviews, but today the company is stepping its efforts up. This is welcome news because when you’re searching for a new app, you want the system to show you apps that are quality and are well-reviewed, not apps that are appearing just because their developers used fake installs and reviews to boost their presence.