diff --git a/update_manager/android_things_policy.cc b/update_manager/android_things_policy.cc
index 2304f12..3af93cc 100644
--- a/update_manager/android_things_policy.cc
+++ b/update_manager/android_things_policy.cc
@@ -22,6 +22,7 @@
 #include <base/logging.h>
 #include <base/time/time.h>
 
+#include "update_engine/update_manager/api_restricted_downloads_policy_impl.h"
 #include "update_engine/update_manager/enough_slots_ab_updates_policy_impl.h"
 #include "update_engine/update_manager/interactive_update_policy_impl.h"
 #include "update_engine/update_manager/official_build_check_policy_impl.h"
@@ -96,15 +97,43 @@
   }
 }
 
-// Always returns |EvalStatus::kSucceeded|
+// Uses the |UpdateRestrictions| to determine if the download and apply can
+// occur at this time.
 EvalStatus AndroidThingsPolicy::UpdateCanBeApplied(
     EvaluationContext* ec,
     State* state,
     string* error,
-    chromeos_update_engine::ErrorCode* result,
+    ErrorCode* result,
     chromeos_update_engine::InstallPlan* install_plan) const {
-  *result = ErrorCode::kSuccess;
-  return EvalStatus::kSucceeded;
+  // Build a list of policies to consult.  Note that each policy may modify the
+  // result structure, even if it signals kContinue.
+  ApiRestrictedDownloadsPolicyImpl api_restricted_downloads_policy;
+
+  vector<Policy const*> policies_to_consult = {
+
+      // Do not apply the update if all updates are restricted by the API.
+      &api_restricted_downloads_policy,
+  };
+
+  // Now that the list of policy implementations, and the order to consult them,
+  // as been setup, do that.  If none of the policies make a definitive
+  // decisions about whether or not to check for updates, then allow the update
+  // check to happen.
+  EvalStatus status = ConsultPolicies(policies_to_consult,
+                                      &Policy::UpdateCanBeApplied,
+                                      ec,
+                                      state,
+                                      error,
+                                      result,
+                                      install_plan);
+  if (EvalStatus::kContinue != status) {
+    return status;
+  } else {
+    // The update can proceed.
+    LOG(INFO) << "Allowing update to be applied.";
+    *result = ErrorCode::kSuccess;
+    return EvalStatus::kSucceeded;
+  }
 }
 
 // Always returns |EvalStatus::kSucceeded|
diff --git a/update_manager/android_things_policy.h b/update_manager/android_things_policy.h
index 6f8f4ad..b45e955 100644
--- a/update_manager/android_things_policy.h
+++ b/update_manager/android_things_policy.h
@@ -37,7 +37,8 @@
                                 std::string* error,
                                 UpdateCheckParams* result) const override;
 
-  // Always returns |EvalStatus::kSucceeded|
+  // Uses the |UpdateRestrictions| to determine if the download and apply can
+  // occur at this time.
   EvalStatus UpdateCanBeApplied(
       EvaluationContext* ec,
       State* state,
diff --git a/update_manager/android_things_policy_unittest.cc b/update_manager/android_things_policy_unittest.cc
index 8b7d128..04b0e0e 100644
--- a/update_manager/android_things_policy_unittest.cc
+++ b/update_manager/android_things_policy_unittest.cc
@@ -21,6 +21,8 @@
 
 using base::Time;
 using base::TimeDelta;
+using chromeos_update_engine::ErrorCode;
+using chromeos_update_engine::InstallPlan;
 
 namespace chromeos_update_manager {
 
@@ -153,4 +155,30 @@
   EXPECT_FALSE(result.is_interactive);
 }
 
+TEST_F(UmAndroidThingsPolicyTest, UpdateCanBeAppliedOk) {
+  // UpdateCanBeApplied should return kSucceeded in the base case
+
+  InstallPlan plan;
+  ErrorCode result;
+  ExpectPolicyStatus(
+      EvalStatus::kSucceeded, &Policy::UpdateCanBeApplied, &result, &plan);
+
+  EXPECT_EQ(ErrorCode::kSuccess, result);
+}
+
+TEST_F(UmAndroidThingsPolicyTest, UpdateCanBeAppliedRestricted) {
+  // UpdateCanBeApplied should return kOmahaUpdateDeferredPerPolicy in
+  // when the restricted flag is set in the Updater.
+
+  fake_state_.updater_provider()->var_update_restrictions()->reset(
+      new UpdateRestrictions(UpdateRestrictions::kRestrictDownloading));
+
+  InstallPlan plan;
+  ErrorCode result;
+  ExpectPolicyStatus(
+      EvalStatus::kSucceeded, &Policy::UpdateCanBeApplied, &result, &plan);
+
+  EXPECT_EQ(ErrorCode::kOmahaUpdateDeferredPerPolicy, result);
+}
+
 }  // namespace chromeos_update_manager
diff --git a/update_manager/api_restricted_downloads_policy_impl.cc b/update_manager/api_restricted_downloads_policy_impl.cc
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..d413cca
--- /dev/null
+++ b/update_manager/api_restricted_downloads_policy_impl.cc
@@ -0,0 +1,47 @@
+//
+// Copyright (C) 2017 The Android Open Source Project
+//
+// Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+// you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+// You may obtain a copy of the License at
+//
+//      http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+//
+// Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+// distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+// WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+// See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+// limitations under the License.
+//
+
+#include "update_engine/update_manager/api_restricted_downloads_policy_impl.h"
+
+using chromeos_update_engine::ErrorCode;
+using std::string;
+using std::vector;
+
+namespace chromeos_update_manager {
+
+// Allow the API to restrict the downloading of updates.
+EvalStatus ApiRestrictedDownloadsPolicyImpl::UpdateCanBeApplied(
+    EvaluationContext* ec,
+    State* state,
+    std::string* error,
+    ErrorCode* result,
+    chromeos_update_engine::InstallPlan* install_plan) const {
+  // Next, check to see if updates can be applied (in general).
+  const UpdateRestrictions* update_restrictions_p =
+      ec->GetValue(state->updater_provider()->var_update_restrictions());
+  if (update_restrictions_p) {
+    if (*update_restrictions_p & UpdateRestrictions::kRestrictDownloading) {
+      *result = ErrorCode::kOmahaUpdateDeferredPerPolicy;
+      return EvalStatus::kSucceeded;
+    }
+  }
+
+  // The API isn't restricting downloads, so implicitly allow them to happen
+  // but don't explicitly return success from this policy implementation.
+  return EvalStatus::kContinue;
+}
+
+}  // namespace chromeos_update_manager
diff --git a/update_manager/api_restricted_downloads_policy_impl.h b/update_manager/api_restricted_downloads_policy_impl.h
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..69686d6
--- /dev/null
+++ b/update_manager/api_restricted_downloads_policy_impl.h
@@ -0,0 +1,51 @@
+//
+// Copyright (C) 2017 The Android Open Source Project
+//
+// Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+// you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+// You may obtain a copy of the License at
+//
+//      http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+//
+// Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+// distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+// WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+// See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+// limitations under the License.
+//
+
+#ifndef UPDATE_ENGINE_UPDATE_MANAGER_API_RESTRICTED_DOWNLOADS_POLICY_IMPL_H_
+#define UPDATE_ENGINE_UPDATE_MANAGER_API_RESTRICTED_DOWNLOADS_POLICY_IMPL_H_
+
+#include <string>
+
+#include "update_engine/update_manager/policy_utils.h"
+
+namespace chromeos_update_manager {
+
+// Allow the API to restrict the downloading of updates.
+class ApiRestrictedDownloadsPolicyImpl : public PolicyImplBase {
+ public:
+  ApiRestrictedDownloadsPolicyImpl() = default;
+  ~ApiRestrictedDownloadsPolicyImpl() override = default;
+
+  // Policy overrides.
+  EvalStatus UpdateCanBeApplied(
+      EvaluationContext* ec,
+      State* state,
+      std::string* error,
+      chromeos_update_engine::ErrorCode* result,
+      chromeos_update_engine::InstallPlan* install_plan) const override;
+
+ protected:
+  std::string PolicyName() const override {
+    return "ApiRestrictedDownloadsPolicyImpl";
+  }
+
+ private:
+  DISALLOW_COPY_AND_ASSIGN(ApiRestrictedDownloadsPolicyImpl);
+};
+
+}  // namespace chromeos_update_manager
+
+#endif  // UPDATE_ENGINE_UPDATE_MANAGER_API_RESTRICTED_DOWNLOADS_POLICY_IMPL_H_
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/update_manager/boxed_value.cc b/update_manager/boxed_value.cc
index 9758d33..a437c02 100644
--- a/update_manager/boxed_value.cc
+++ b/update_manager/boxed_value.cc
@@ -176,4 +176,19 @@
   return "Unknown";
 }
 
+template <>
+string BoxedValue::ValuePrinter<UpdateRestrictions>(const void* value) {
+  const UpdateRestrictions* val =
+      reinterpret_cast<const UpdateRestrictions*>(value);
+
+  if (*val == UpdateRestrictions::kNone) {
+    return "None";
+  }
+  string retval = "Flags:";
+  if (*val & kRestrictDownloading) {
+    retval += " RestrictDownloading";
+  }
+  return retval;
+}
+
 }  // namespace chromeos_update_manager
diff --git a/update_manager/boxed_value_unittest.cc b/update_manager/boxed_value_unittest.cc
index 2a086a6..83d8de7 100644
--- a/update_manager/boxed_value_unittest.cc
+++ b/update_manager/boxed_value_unittest.cc
@@ -231,4 +231,14 @@
   EXPECT_EQ("DeleterMarker:true", value.ToString());
 }
 
+TEST(UmBoxedValueTest, UpdateRestrictionsToString) {
+  EXPECT_EQ(
+      "None",
+      BoxedValue(new UpdateRestrictions(UpdateRestrictions::kNone)).ToString());
+  EXPECT_EQ("Flags: RestrictDownloading",
+            BoxedValue(new UpdateRestrictions(
+                           UpdateRestrictions::kRestrictDownloading))
+                .ToString());
+}
+
 }  // namespace chromeos_update_manager
diff --git a/update_manager/fake_updater_provider.h b/update_manager/fake_updater_provider.h
index a7c15b5..3e03d43 100644
--- a/update_manager/fake_updater_provider.h
+++ b/update_manager/fake_updater_provider.h
@@ -85,6 +85,10 @@
     return &var_forced_update_requested_;
   }
 
+  FakeVariable<UpdateRestrictions>* var_update_restrictions() override {
+    return &var_update_restrictions_;
+  }
+
  private:
   FakeVariable<base::Time>
       var_updater_started_time_{  // NOLINT(whitespace/braces)
@@ -121,6 +125,10 @@
   FakeVariable<UpdateRequestStatus>
       var_forced_update_requested_{  // NOLINT(whitespace/braces)
     "forced_update_requested", kVariableModeAsync};
+  FakeVariable<UpdateRestrictions> var_update_restrictions_{
+      // NOLINT(whitespace/braces)
+      "update_restrictions",
+      kVariableModePoll};
 
   DISALLOW_COPY_AND_ASSIGN(FakeUpdaterProvider);
 };
diff --git a/update_manager/real_updater_provider.cc b/update_manager/real_updater_provider.cc
index a085f42..efa3609 100644
--- a/update_manager/real_updater_provider.cc
+++ b/update_manager/real_updater_provider.cc
@@ -38,6 +38,7 @@
 using chromeos_update_engine::OmahaRequestParams;
 using chromeos_update_engine::SystemState;
 using std::string;
+using update_engine::UpdateAttemptFlags;
 using update_engine::UpdateEngineStatus;
 
 namespace chromeos_update_manager {
@@ -416,40 +417,66 @@
   DISALLOW_COPY_AND_ASSIGN(ForcedUpdateRequestedVariable);
 };
 
+// A variable returning the current update restrictions that are in effect.
+class UpdateRestrictionsVariable
+    : public UpdaterVariableBase<UpdateRestrictions> {
+ public:
+  UpdateRestrictionsVariable(const string& name, SystemState* system_state)
+      : UpdaterVariableBase<UpdateRestrictions>(
+            name, kVariableModePoll, system_state) {}
+
+ private:
+  const UpdateRestrictions* GetValue(TimeDelta /* timeout */,
+                                     string* /* errmsg */) override {
+    UpdateAttemptFlags attempt_flags =
+        system_state()->update_attempter()->GetCurrentUpdateAttemptFlags();
+    UpdateRestrictions restriction_flags = UpdateRestrictions::kNone;
+    // Don't blindly copy the whole value, test and set bits that should
+    // transfer from one set of flags to the other.
+    if (attempt_flags & UpdateAttemptFlags::kFlagRestrictDownload) {
+      restriction_flags = static_cast<UpdateRestrictions>(
+          restriction_flags | UpdateRestrictions::kRestrictDownloading);
+    }
+
+    return new UpdateRestrictions(restriction_flags);
+  }
+
+  DISALLOW_COPY_AND_ASSIGN(UpdateRestrictionsVariable);
+};
+
 // RealUpdaterProvider methods.
 
 RealUpdaterProvider::RealUpdaterProvider(SystemState* system_state)
-  : system_state_(system_state),
-    var_updater_started_time_("updater_started_time",
-                              system_state->clock()->GetWallclockTime()),
-    var_last_checked_time_(
-        new LastCheckedTimeVariable("last_checked_time", system_state_)),
-    var_update_completed_time_(
-        new UpdateCompletedTimeVariable("update_completed_time",
-                                        system_state_)),
-    var_progress_(new ProgressVariable("progress", system_state_)),
-    var_stage_(new StageVariable("stage", system_state_)),
-    var_new_version_(new NewVersionVariable("new_version", system_state_)),
-    var_payload_size_(new PayloadSizeVariable("payload_size", system_state_)),
-    var_curr_channel_(new CurrChannelVariable("curr_channel", system_state_)),
-    var_new_channel_(new NewChannelVariable("new_channel", system_state_)),
-    var_p2p_enabled_(
-        new BooleanPrefVariable("p2p_enabled", system_state_->prefs(),
-                                chromeos_update_engine::kPrefsP2PEnabled,
-                                false)),
-    var_cellular_enabled_(
-        new BooleanPrefVariable(
-            "cellular_enabled", system_state_->prefs(),
-            chromeos_update_engine::kPrefsUpdateOverCellularPermission,
-            false)),
-    var_consecutive_failed_update_checks_(
-        new ConsecutiveFailedUpdateChecksVariable(
-            "consecutive_failed_update_checks", system_state_)),
-    var_server_dictated_poll_interval_(
-        new ServerDictatedPollIntervalVariable(
-            "server_dictated_poll_interval", system_state_)),
-    var_forced_update_requested_(
-        new ForcedUpdateRequestedVariable(
-            "forced_update_requested", system_state_)) {}
-
+    : system_state_(system_state),
+      var_updater_started_time_("updater_started_time",
+                                system_state->clock()->GetWallclockTime()),
+      var_last_checked_time_(
+          new LastCheckedTimeVariable("last_checked_time", system_state_)),
+      var_update_completed_time_(new UpdateCompletedTimeVariable(
+          "update_completed_time", system_state_)),
+      var_progress_(new ProgressVariable("progress", system_state_)),
+      var_stage_(new StageVariable("stage", system_state_)),
+      var_new_version_(new NewVersionVariable("new_version", system_state_)),
+      var_payload_size_(new PayloadSizeVariable("payload_size", system_state_)),
+      var_curr_channel_(new CurrChannelVariable("curr_channel", system_state_)),
+      var_new_channel_(new NewChannelVariable("new_channel", system_state_)),
+      var_p2p_enabled_(
+          new BooleanPrefVariable("p2p_enabled",
+                                  system_state_->prefs(),
+                                  chromeos_update_engine::kPrefsP2PEnabled,
+                                  false)),
+      var_cellular_enabled_(new BooleanPrefVariable(
+          "cellular_enabled",
+          system_state_->prefs(),
+          chromeos_update_engine::kPrefsUpdateOverCellularPermission,
+          false)),
+      var_consecutive_failed_update_checks_(
+          new ConsecutiveFailedUpdateChecksVariable(
+              "consecutive_failed_update_checks", system_state_)),
+      var_server_dictated_poll_interval_(new ServerDictatedPollIntervalVariable(
+          "server_dictated_poll_interval", system_state_)),
+      var_forced_update_requested_(new ForcedUpdateRequestedVariable(
+          "forced_update_requested", system_state_)),
+      var_update_restrictions_(new UpdateRestrictionsVariable(
+          "update_restrictions", system_state_)) {}
 }  // namespace chromeos_update_manager
diff --git a/update_manager/real_updater_provider.h b/update_manager/real_updater_provider.h
index eb8b8e6..5e3e27b 100644
--- a/update_manager/real_updater_provider.h
+++ b/update_manager/real_updater_provider.h
@@ -96,6 +96,10 @@
     return var_forced_update_requested_.get();
   }
 
+  Variable<UpdateRestrictions>* var_update_restrictions() override {
+    return var_update_restrictions_.get();
+  }
+
  private:
   // A pointer to the update engine's system state aggregator.
   chromeos_update_engine::SystemState* system_state_;
@@ -115,6 +119,7 @@
   std::unique_ptr<Variable<unsigned int>> var_consecutive_failed_update_checks_;
   std::unique_ptr<Variable<unsigned int>> var_server_dictated_poll_interval_;
   std::unique_ptr<Variable<UpdateRequestStatus>> var_forced_update_requested_;
+  std::unique_ptr<Variable<UpdateRestrictions>> var_update_restrictions_;
 
   DISALLOW_COPY_AND_ASSIGN(RealUpdaterProvider);
 };
diff --git a/update_manager/real_updater_provider_unittest.cc b/update_manager/real_updater_provider_unittest.cc
index f128c77..72e664b 100644
--- a/update_manager/real_updater_provider_unittest.cc
+++ b/update_manager/real_updater_provider_unittest.cc
@@ -38,10 +38,11 @@
 using chromeos_update_engine::OmahaRequestParams;
 using std::string;
 using std::unique_ptr;
+using testing::_;
 using testing::DoAll;
 using testing::Return;
 using testing::SetArgPointee;
-using testing::_;
+using update_engine::UpdateAttemptFlags;
 
 namespace {
 
@@ -425,4 +426,20 @@
       kPollInterval, provider_->var_server_dictated_poll_interval());
 }
 
+TEST_F(UmRealUpdaterProviderTest, GetUpdateRestrictions) {
+  EXPECT_CALL(*fake_sys_state_.mock_update_attempter(),
+              GetCurrentUpdateAttemptFlags())
+      .WillRepeatedly(Return(UpdateAttemptFlags::kFlagRestrictDownload |
+                             UpdateAttemptFlags::kFlagNonInteractive));
+  UmTestUtils::ExpectVariableHasValue(UpdateRestrictions::kRestrictDownloading,
+                                      provider_->var_update_restrictions());
+}
+
+TEST_F(UmRealUpdaterProviderTest, GetUpdateRestrictionsNone) {
+  EXPECT_CALL(*fake_sys_state_.mock_update_attempter(),
+              GetCurrentUpdateAttemptFlags())
+      .WillRepeatedly(Return(UpdateAttemptFlags::kNone));
+  UmTestUtils::ExpectVariableHasValue(UpdateRestrictions::kNone,
+                                      provider_->var_update_restrictions());
+}
 }  // namespace chromeos_update_manager
diff --git a/update_manager/updater_provider.h b/update_manager/updater_provider.h
index 549aea9..cb62623 100644
--- a/update_manager/updater_provider.h
+++ b/update_manager/updater_provider.h
@@ -44,6 +44,12 @@
   kPeriodic,
 };
 
+// These enum values are a bit-field.
+enum UpdateRestrictions : int {
+  kNone,
+  kRestrictDownloading = (1 << 0),
+};
+
 // Provider for Chrome OS update related information.
 class UpdaterProvider : public Provider {
  public:
@@ -105,6 +111,10 @@
   // scheduled update.
   virtual Variable<UpdateRequestStatus>* var_forced_update_requested() = 0;
 
+  // A variable that returns the update restriction flags that are set
+  // for all updates.
+  virtual Variable<UpdateRestrictions>* var_update_restrictions() = 0;
+
  protected:
   UpdaterProvider() {}