Google updated the terms and conditions for its Play Store, to prevent developers from updating apps downloaded from the portal outside of the Play mechanism – a move that will impact Facebook among others.

The search giant said that “an app downloaded from Google Play may not modify, replace or update its own APK binary code using any method other than Google’s Play update mechanism”.

It was noted that the change came shortly after Facebook began rolling out beta updates of its Android apps to some users outside of Google Play, enabling it to undertake a limited release of the new version.

However, the clause was included in a section headed “dangerous products”, which addresses malware, indicating that the company may be looking to prevent miscreants from using Google Play to propagate “clean” versions of apps, which are then updated outside of Google Play to include malicious content.

According to Edgadget, Google noted that it had posted the changes to its Developer Console accompanied by the statement: “Google Play is a trusted source for Android application downloads, and we are committed to providing a secure and consistent experience”.

To this end, the document also addresses issues such as the collection of personal and confidential information; guidance on payments and in-app purchases; and the behaviour of advertising delivered by apps.

Other changes made include a clause which states that apps “must not create unpredictable network usage that has an adverse impact on a user’s service charges on an authorised carrier’s network.”