● Covered by 1 source · 1 reportLow impact1 negative
Google Play rejects AnkiDroid updates over Open Collective donation link, risking app removal
Key points
- Google Play rejects AnkiDroid updates due to donation link.
- Google claims Open Collective (501(c)(6)) is not tax-exempt.
- AnkiDroid faces removal from Google Play on September 11.
- AnkiDroid is removing donation links under protest.
Google Play Rejects AnkiDroid Updates
Google Play has been rejecting updates for AnkiDroid, a free, open-source flashcard app, since August 28. The rejections stem from the app's inclusion of a donation link to Open Collective, which acts as its fiscal host. Google's payments policy prohibits apps from directing users to payment methods outside Google Play's billing system, with an exception for tax-exempt donations.
Dispute Over Tax-Exempt Status
Open Collective, the recipient of AnkiDroid's donations, holds an IRS determination letter confirming its tax-exempt status under 501(c)(6). However, Google's communications state that donations may only be collected for "a validated tax-exempt organization (for example, a validated 501(c)(3) charitable organization)" and has asserted that Open Collective is not tax-exempt. Google has not provided clarification on why a 501(c)(6) determination is deemed insufficient.
Potential App Removal
If the issue remains unresolved, AnkiDroid is scheduled for removal from Google Play worldwide (excluding India and Russia) on September 11. AnkiDroid has over 10 million installs and is used globally, particularly in medical education and language learning. The AnkiDroid team is removing donation links from their Play Store build under protest to comply with Google's demands and prevent removal.
✨ This summary was generated by AI from the outlets' reporting listed below. It is not independently verified and may contain errors — check the original sources. How BrevFeed works →
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Primary sources
GitHub cmc_internal/api GitHub github/collect GitHub _view_fragments/issues GitHub ankidroid/Anki-Android GitHub user-attachments/assets GitHub 21656/Anki-AndroidReporting from
Google Play is rejecting updates for the AnkiDroid flashcard app due to its Open Collective donation link, claiming the organization is not tax-exempt despite its 501(c)(6) status. This dispute could lead to AnkiDroid's removal from Google Play on September 11 if unresolved, impacting its 10 million users.