In February, Google launched Privacy Sandbox for Android, making mobile ads more privacy-conscious. On top of Android 13, the Privacy Sandbox Developer Preview is already available. The new release focuses on introducing the Topics API, which allows apps/websites to display ads based on user interests, and the SDK Runtime, which isolates the advertising SDKs (and processes) contained in the application.
Privacy Sandbox for Android wants to keep the mobile advertising industry “healthy” by introducing more secure alternatives, tools, and existing methods while ensuring user privacy by default. This approach is undoubtedly determined by the company’s position as a big advertiser, and unlike Apple, Google today describes “outright restricting existing technology for developers and advertisers.”
On android 13 developer beta, Privacy Sandbox DP1 provides additional platform APIs and services to “initially test these new technologies and evaluate how you can incorporate them in your solution.” Google makes it clear that it does not currently intend to use it for everyday and consumer use, and can only be enabled by manual download.
You can install it on Pixel 4, 4a, 5, 5a, 6, and 6 Pro, or through the Android emulator. Google provides the following resources and things to try:
- Topics API
Call the API and retrieve the test values, representing the granularity of the user’s interest. Please refer to the documentation for details.
- SDK Runtime
Establish and install an SDK that supports runtimes on a test device or emulator. Create a test app, load the SDK at runtime, and require the SDK to remotely render WebView-based ads in the app. See the documentation for details.
- Sample code
Sample code that demonstrates the implementation of a runtime-enabled SDK and uses the Topics API, available on GitHub
- Privacy Sandbox API reference