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Google Play Data safety answers must reflect your app's actual data handling, including the third-party SDKs and features enabled in its released versions. Do not copy another application's form or assume that your own code is the only code transmitting data.

Google's Data safety guidance, checked October 8, 2026, explains the definitions and developer responsibility. This worksheet helps gather technical evidence; it does not determine your legal obligations or certify compliance.

Inventory the release, not the package wish list#

Start with the resolved dependencies in the production build. Include native SDKs brought in by Flutter plugins, webviews your app controls and service integrations configured through remote flags.

For each component, record the version, enabled features, data types involved, destination, purpose and reference for the vendor's current disclosure. A vendor's newest documentation may describe a different version or configuration from the one you ship.

If an SDK is installed but a feature is disabled, document the evidence for that distinction. Do not infer “collects nothing” solely from a settings label.

Distinguish access from transmission#

Google's definitions distinguish on-device processing from data sent off the device and give separate collection and sharing rules. A permission request alone does not establish every data flow; the absence of a permission also does not prove no data is transmitted.

Investigate startup, sign-in, feature use, error reporting and background behavior with authorized synthetic data. Record what each observation proves and its limitations. A short network capture cannot establish the absence of every possible flow.

Build a decision record per data flow#

Use one row per meaningful flow in your internal worksheet:

text
Component and resolved version:
Trigger or enabled feature:
Data involved:
Where processing occurs:
Destination and processor role:
Purpose:
User choice, where applicable:
Retention/deletion evidence:
Vendor source and checked date:
Declaration decision and owner:

Keep credentials and customer payloads out of the worksheet. The useful evidence is the behavior and applicable documentation, not a collection of sensitive raw requests.

Reconcile the form with the product#

Compare the draft form, privacy policy and actual settings. Google's guidance treats optionality, service-provider handling and other exceptions according to specific definitions. Read the applicable rule before choosing an answer; do not apply a broad everyday meaning of “sharing.”

If a flow is unclear, ask the component owner or vendor for version-specific information and hold the uncertain declaration for review. Guessing “no” because the answer looks better in a listing is not an audit.

Treat dependency changes as review triggers#

A new analytics feature, crash-reporting option or SDK upgrade can change the evidence. Add a release checklist item asking whether resolved components or data flows changed. Reopen vendor disclosures when they did.

This review is different from checking whether a privacy manifest file exists in an Apple archive. Keep technical packaging checks and declaration accuracy separate.

Store the reasoning with the release#

Retain the completed worksheet, reviewed declarations and relevant release identity. Assign a person to resolve remaining uncertainty and document meaningful updates truthfully.

Our AI meeting-notes privacy checklist offers a parallel method for evaluating data flow, retention and access. The common principle is to trace what happens to information rather than rely on a reassuring product label.