diff --git a/core/res/AndroidManifest.xml b/core/res/AndroidManifest.xml
index 8147b4a..d0a81b5 100644
--- a/core/res/AndroidManifest.xml
+++ b/core/res/AndroidManifest.xml
@@ -2268,6 +2268,11 @@
     <permission android:name="android.permission.START_ANY_ACTIVITY"
         android:protectionLevel="signature" />
 
+    <!-- Allows an application to start activities from background
+         @hide -->
+    <permission android:name="android.permission.START_ACTIVITIES_FROM_BACKGROUND"
+        android:protectionLevel="signature|privileged|vendorPrivileged|oem" />
+
     <!-- @SystemApi Must be required by activities that handle the intent action
          {@link Intent#ACTION_SEND_SHOW_SUSPENDED_APP_DETAILS}. This is for use by apps that
          hold {@link Manifest.permission#SUSPEND_APPS} to interact with the system.
diff --git a/data/etc/com.android.systemui.xml b/data/etc/com.android.systemui.xml
index 221708b..3562a8f 100644
--- a/data/etc/com.android.systemui.xml
+++ b/data/etc/com.android.systemui.xml
@@ -44,6 +44,7 @@
         <permission name="android.permission.READ_PRIVILEGED_PHONE_STATE"/>
         <permission name="android.permission.REAL_GET_TASKS"/>
         <permission name="android.permission.RECEIVE_MEDIA_RESOURCE_USAGE"/>
+        <permission name="android.permission.START_ACTIVITIES_FROM_BACKGROUND" />
         <permission name="android.permission.START_ACTIVITY_AS_CALLER"/>
         <permission name="android.permission.START_TASKS_FROM_RECENTS"/>
         <permission name="android.permission.STATUS_BAR"/>
diff --git a/data/etc/privapp-permissions-platform.xml b/data/etc/privapp-permissions-platform.xml
index fbe613d..4e3c06b 100644
--- a/data/etc/privapp-permissions-platform.xml
+++ b/data/etc/privapp-permissions-platform.xml
@@ -342,6 +342,7 @@
         <permission name="android.permission.SET_TIME"/>
         <permission name="android.permission.SET_TIME_ZONE"/>
         <permission name="android.permission.SIGNAL_PERSISTENT_PROCESSES"/>
+        <permission name="android.permission.START_ACTIVITIES_FROM_BACKGROUND" />
         <permission name="android.permission.START_TASKS_FROM_RECENTS" />
         <permission name="android.permission.STOP_APP_SWITCHES"/>
         <permission name="android.permission.SUBSTITUTE_NOTIFICATION_APP_NAME"/>
diff --git a/packages/Shell/AndroidManifest.xml b/packages/Shell/AndroidManifest.xml
index fa95bf2..9b775e0 100644
--- a/packages/Shell/AndroidManifest.xml
+++ b/packages/Shell/AndroidManifest.xml
@@ -129,6 +129,7 @@
     <uses-permission android:name="android.permission.VIBRATE" />
     <uses-permission android:name="android.permission.MANAGE_ACTIVITY_STACKS" />
     <uses-permission android:name="android.permission.START_TASKS_FROM_RECENTS" />
+    <uses-permission android:name="android.permission.START_ACTIVITIES_FROM_BACKGROUND" />
     <uses-permission android:name="android.permission.ACTIVITY_EMBEDDING" />
     <uses-permission android:name="android.permission.CONNECTIVITY_INTERNAL" />
     <uses-permission android:name="android.permission.CHANGE_COMPONENT_ENABLED_STATE" />
diff --git a/packages/SystemUI/AndroidManifest.xml b/packages/SystemUI/AndroidManifest.xml
index 1c1a140..b4f2711 100644
--- a/packages/SystemUI/AndroidManifest.xml
+++ b/packages/SystemUI/AndroidManifest.xml
@@ -87,6 +87,7 @@
     <uses-permission android:name="android.permission.STOP_APP_SWITCHES" />
     <uses-permission android:name="android.permission.SET_SCREEN_COMPATIBILITY" />
     <uses-permission android:name="android.permission.START_ANY_ACTIVITY" />
+    <uses-permission android:name="android.permission.START_ACTIVITIES_FROM_BACKGROUND" />
     <uses-permission android:name="android.permission.INTERACT_ACROSS_USERS" />
     <uses-permission android:name="android.permission.INTERACT_ACROSS_USERS_FULL" />
     <uses-permission android:name="android.permission.GET_TOP_ACTIVITY_INFO" />
diff --git a/services/core/java/com/android/server/wm/ActivityStarter.java b/services/core/java/com/android/server/wm/ActivityStarter.java
index b100ecd..a2b35e5 100644
--- a/services/core/java/com/android/server/wm/ActivityStarter.java
+++ b/services/core/java/com/android/server/wm/ActivityStarter.java
@@ -16,6 +16,7 @@
 
 package com.android.server.wm;
 
+import static android.Manifest.permission.START_ACTIVITIES_FROM_BACKGROUND;
 import static android.app.Activity.RESULT_CANCELED;
 import static android.app.ActivityManager.START_ABORTED;
 import static android.app.ActivityManager.START_CANCELED;
@@ -50,6 +51,7 @@
 import static android.content.pm.ActivityInfo.LAUNCH_SINGLE_INSTANCE;
 import static android.content.pm.ActivityInfo.LAUNCH_SINGLE_TASK;
 import static android.content.pm.ActivityInfo.LAUNCH_SINGLE_TOP;
+import static android.content.pm.PackageManager.PERMISSION_GRANTED;
 import static android.view.Display.DEFAULT_DISPLAY;
 import static android.view.Display.INVALID_DISPLAY;
 
@@ -745,8 +747,9 @@
         // not sure if we need to create START_ABORTED_BACKGROUND so for now piggybacking
         // on START_ABORTED
         if (!abort) {
-            abort |= shouldAbortBackgroundActivityStart(callingUid, callingPackage, realCallingUid,
-                    callerApp, originatingPendingIntent, allowBackgroundActivityStart);
+            abort |= shouldAbortBackgroundActivityStart(callingUid, callingPid, callingPackage,
+                    realCallingUid, callerApp, originatingPendingIntent,
+                    allowBackgroundActivityStart);
         }
 
         // Merge the two options bundles, while realCallerOptions takes precedence.
@@ -893,8 +896,8 @@
                 true /* doResume */, checkedOptions, inTask, outActivity);
     }
 
-    private boolean shouldAbortBackgroundActivityStart(int callingUid, final String callingPackage,
-            int realCallingUid, WindowProcessController callerApp,
+    private boolean shouldAbortBackgroundActivityStart(int callingUid, int callingPid,
+            final String callingPackage, int realCallingUid, WindowProcessController callerApp,
             PendingIntentRecord originatingPendingIntent, boolean allowBackgroundActivityStart) {
         if (mService.isBackgroundActivityStartsEnabled()) {
             return false;
@@ -928,6 +931,11 @@
         if (callerApp != null && callerApp.areBackgroundActivityStartsAllowed()) {
             return false;
         }
+        // don't abort if the callingUid has START_ACTIVITIES_FROM_BACKGROUND permission
+        if (mService.checkPermission(START_ACTIVITIES_FROM_BACKGROUND, callingPid, callingUid)
+                == PERMISSION_GRANTED) {
+            return false;
+        }
         // don't abort if the caller has the same uid as the recents component
         if (mSupervisor.mRecentTasks.isCallerRecents(callingUid)) {
             return false;