Google is soon going to restrict the access of loan apps to users' photos and contacts.

Image Credit: CNBC Beginning on May 31st, Google will apply a new policy for apps offering personal loans that may assist shield customers from abuse and harassment. The software giant has amended its policy to forbid applications for payday loans from having access to users' contacts lists (per TechCrunch). Additionally, they won't be able to access anybody else's images or movies, whether they are kept on the phone or in an external storage device. Google has made a number of modifications over the past year in response to numerous complaints of harassment from markets including India, Pakistan, Kenya, and the Philippines. Loan apps frequently demand access to users' media and phonebooks before disbursing funds. These apps appear to be a rather practical answer for unforeseen financial troubles given how simple it is for users to install them on their phones. However, because they sometimes demand excessive interest rates, many borrowers wind up unable to make payments. The abuse starts at that point. In an effort to shame the borrower into paying, agents for these firms would bulk send vulgar texts to all of the borrower's contacts, including chance acquaintances and coworkers. Some would even threaten to hurt them and their family physically. As TechCrunch previously reported, several victims of abuse committed suicide as a result of the assault, which became so severe. Google enacted regulations for India, Indonesia, the Philippines, Nigeria, Kenya, and Pakistan, requiring them to present proof of approval and other documentation from the relevant governmental bodies in an effort to keep these loan sharks under check. Google banned payday lending apps in the US in 2019 when the annual percentage rate was at least 36%. Additionally, as of May 31st, non-banking financial institutions in Pakistan will only be permitted to publish one lending app on the Play Store. Read More: Google Introduces New Features for Personal Loan Apps In the Philippines, where I currently reside, the tech giant tightened its loan app screening procedures a year ago. However, I continue to see a staggering amount of loan apps when I visit the Play Store, and I continue to hear frequent reports of users being harassed by their agents. Although Google's decision to prevent these programs from accessing people's phonebooks sounds like a start in the right way, stronger screening criteria were still insufficient.