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Google has created a new policy that requires apps to support the latest emoji version within four months of its release.

https://support.google.com/googleplay/android-developer/answer/11190649#emoji_preview

To do this, we may need to replace our current emoji implementation with Google's emoji2 library, which can be used directly or via AppCompat.

https://developer.android.com/guide/topics/ui/look-and-feel/emoji2

By default this uses a downloadable font and requires a downloadable font provider such as Google Play Services. In order to work offline, avoid depending on Play Services and protect users' privacy, we would need to bundle the 10 MB emoji font in our APK.

https://developer.android.com/guide/topics/ui/look-and-feel/emoji2#support-bundled-fonts

The policy becomes effective on 2 February 2022.