Disconnect

Disconnect Mobile returned to the Google Play Store yesterday for the first time since Google banned it in August, but overnight Google kicked the app out again.

CNET received an email from Disconnect co-founder Casey Oppenheim on Tuesday morning about the ousting.

"Our app got removed by Google again at around 2 a.m. [PT]," he said. "Ugh."

Disconnect Mobile, a malicious tracking and malicious advertising prevention app, was originally banned in August for violating section 4.4 of the Google Developer Distribution Agreement. That section prohibits Android apps hosted in Google Play from interfering with other apps or Android services.

The app had more than 20,000 new installs yesterday before being removed again.

Oppenheim said at the time the app was originally banned -- and reiterated yesterday -- that Google's ban was "vague" and that even personal conversations with Google employees familiar with the company's policies on Android apps and privacy couldn't help explain what the app was doing wrong.

"Google's reasoning made no sense. Yes, they again cited to 4.4 and other similarly vague terms but despite our pleas for clear explanation they refused to plainly state why our app was pulled or what we could do to come into compliance," he said Tuesday morning.

Google did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The removal could affect Disconnect's standing as an Android developer because Google considers such app removals to be "strikes" against the developer. Disconnect could also be responsible for refunding to Google "all amounts received, plus any associated fees" as laid out in section 7.2 of the Developer Distribution Agreement.

Disconnect Mobile Google Play Emails