Why "view network connections" permission is necessary?

[shuvashish76]

From: https://f-droid.org/en/packages/com.github.tmo1.sms_ie/

AppManager scanner result: android.permission.ACCESS_NETWORK_STATE

Details

[tmo1]

SMS I/E does not directly declare android.permission.ACCESS_NETWORK_STATE, but it does use the Android WorkManager library (for scheduling exports), and that library does declare android.permission.ACCESS_NETWORK_STATE. (FWIW, I don't think that SMS I/E uses any WorkManager functionality that requires that permission, but the permission still gets declared.)

[shuvashish76]

Yes I've reported similar cases for other apps. (1, 2, 3).

Request to remove that permission: https://developermemos.com/posts/removing-unwanted-manifest-permissions/