How to check Google Play Protect status?

I'm creating an anti-virus software, and I would like to know if Google Play Protect is enabled or disabled? I'm using Java in Android Studio. Are there any permissions required to access this information?

You can check if Google Play Protect (also known as Verify Apps) is enabled using the SafetyNet Verify Apps API (see that link for more details, including a Kotlin version and an option to prompt the user to enable it if it's disabled).

It's an asynchronous API, so you'll have to write a callback, something like:

SafetyNet.getClient(context)
    .isVerifyAppsEnabled()
    .addOnCompleteListener(new OnCompleteListener<VerifyAppsUserResponse>() {
        @Override
        public void onComplete(Task<VerifyAppsUserResponse> task) {
            if (task.isSuccessful()) {
                VerifyAppsUserResponse result = task.getResult();
                if (result.isVerifyAppsEnabled()) {
                    // It's enabled, handle that case here
                } else {
                    // It's not enabled, handle that case here
                }
            } else {
                // An error occurred, we don't know whether it's enabled
            }
        }
    });

The context parameter would just be your this if you're calling it from an Activity or Service.