Warnings Your Apk Is Using Permissions That Require A Privacy Policy: (android.permission.READ_PHONE_STATE)

Question

In manifest not added android.permission.READ_PHONE_STATE. permission.

Why error comes when I upload a new apk version error comes below.

Your app has an apk w

Answer 1

2018 update:

For AdMob users, this causes AdMob version 12.0.0 (currently last version). It wrongly requests READ_PHONE_STATE permission, so even if your app doesn't require READ_PHONE_STATE permission in manifest, you won't be able to update your app in the Google Play Console (it will tell you to create a privacy policy page for your app, because your app requires this permission).

See this: https://developers.google.com/android/guides/releases#march_20_2018_-_version_1200

Also, they wrote they will publish an update to 12.0.1 fixing this soon.