Android Data Collection: Difference between revisions

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==Background==

'''[[Android]]''', the global top mobile operating system,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Mobile Operating System Market Share Worldwide |url=https://gs.statcounter.com/os-market-share/mobile/worldwide |url-status=live |access-date=15 Mar 2025 |website=[[StatCounter]]}}</ref> is used to power billions of devices globally. Tests have shown that Android phones transmit user data to Google on multiple occasions even when users try to restrict sharing of data via settings. This has encouraged increasing alarm over user privacy, transparency, and personal data control.

'''[[Android]]''', the global top mobile operating system,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Mobile Operating System Market Share Worldwide |url=https://gs.statcounter.com/os-market-share/mobile/worldwide |url-status=live |access-date=15 Mar 2025 |website=[[StatCounter]]}}</ref> is used to power billions of devices globally. Tests have shown that Android phones with Google services transmit user data to Google on multiple occasions even when users try to restrict sharing of data via settings. This has encouraged increasing alarm over user privacy, transparency, and personal data control.

A study found that data collection happens without any chance to opt out even before the user has even opened their first app.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Jones |first=Connor |date=4 Mar 2025 |title=How Google tracks Android device users before they've even opened an app |url=https://www.theregister.com/2025/03/04/google_android/ |access-date=2025-03-05 |website=The Register}}</ref>

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==Data sharing with Google==

A research examined the frequency of data sharing between Google and Android phones.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Leith |first=Douglas J. |date=25 Mar 2021 |title=Mobile Handset Privacy: Measuring The Data iOS and Android Send to Apple And Google |url=https://www.scss.tcd.ie/doug.leith/apple_google.pdf |url-status=live |access-date=15 Mar 2025}}</ref> The research showed that even if an Android phone is set to minimal setting and left on its own, it shares data with Google on average every 4.5 minutes. The shared data includes sensitive information like:

A research examined the frequency of data sharing between Google and Android phones with Google services.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Leith |first=Douglas J. |date=25 Mar 2021 |title=Mobile Handset Privacy: Measuring The Data iOS and Android Send to Apple And Google |url=https://www.scss.tcd.ie/doug.leith/apple_google.pdf |url-status=live |access-date=15 Mar 2025}}</ref> The research showed that even if an Android phone is set to minimal setting and left on its own, it shares data with Google on average every 4.5 minutes. The shared data includes sensitive information like:

*IMEI (International Mobile Equipment Identity)

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*Handset phone number

In addition, Android sends telemetry data to Google even when customers directly decline to have their data collected. For instance, each time a SIM card is inserted into the device, ~~Android~~ sends its information to Google automatically.

In addition, Google services on Android sends telemetry data to Google even when customers directly decline to have their data collected. For instance, each time a SIM card is inserted into the device, Google services sends its information to Google automatically.

Data exchanged with Google by Google Messages and Google Dialer applications on an Android smartphone was also researched.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Leith |first=Douglas J. |date=28 Feb 2022 |title=What Data Do The Google Dialer and Messages Apps On Android Send to Google? |url=https://www.scss.tcd.ie/doug.leith/privacyofdialerandsmsapps.pdf |url-status=live |access-date=15 Mar 2025}}</ref> These applications report to Google whenever messages are being sent/received or calls are being received/made. Precisely:

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==Privacy respecting alternatives==

Not many~~, if any,~~ alternatives are available to users for completely avoiding this data sharing. ~~Even attempts~~ to disable data collection via settings, Android integration with Google services does make it impossible to fully discontinue the passing on of person and device details.<ref name=":0" />

Not many alternatives are available to users for completely avoiding this data sharing. Attempts to disable data collection via settings, Android integration with Google services does make it impossible to fully discontinue the passing on of person and device details.<ref name=":0" />

~~This is a serious cause of concern as far as user privacy and control over one's own data are concerned. Though some measures, such as the~~ use of [[wikipedia:List_of_custom_Android_distributions|custom ROMs]] or privacy-focused applications, do cut down on sharing data, these are likely to require technical know-how and are not necessarily in the hands of the average user.

The use of [[wikipedia:List_of_custom_Android_distributions|custom ROMs]] or privacy-focused applications, do cut down on sharing data, these are likely to require technical know-how and are not necessarily in the hands of the average user.

~~French non~~-~~profit~~ [https://murena.com/ Murena] sells devices pre-~~flashed~~ with ~~their~~ de-googled Android ~~version [https://e.foundation/ /e/ OS]~~, making privacy friendly Android phones accessible to non-technical users. However, the ~~project~~ has a history of not always addressing security vulnerabilities in a timely manner<ref>{{Cite web |last=Duval |first=Gael |date=Sep 2023 |title=Some clarification regarding security vs privacy in /e/OS |url=https://community.e.foundation/t/some-clarification-regarding-security-vs-privacy-in-e-os/51839 |url-status=live |access-date=15 Mar 2025 |website=[[e]]}}</ref> ~~and thus the user is required to make a certain tradeoff between privacy and security, though~~ the situation is still much better than the millions of phones in active use that no longer get manufacturer support.

In general, Google services which are the source of most of the data collection serve two functions:

# Application dependencies, like network location services, debugging tooling, advertising services etc.

# Application distribution

An privacy replacing alternative should therefore have an alternative for these functions.

Perhaps the only Google -free alternate configuration comprises of MicroG applications, which is an open source reimplementation of Google services. It provides necessary dependencies so that most of the applications which depend on Google services can function on a device without those Google services.

As for application distribution, few alternate channels, such as F-droid and Aurora Store exists.

[https://murena.com/ Murena], Fairphone and [https://iode.tech/ Iodé] sells devices pre-installed with de-googled Android based on LineageOS and MicroG, making privacy friendly Android phones accessible to non-technical users. However, the operating system called /e/ on Murena devices has a history of not always addressing security vulnerabilities in a timely manner<ref>{{Cite web |last=Duval |first=Gael |date=Sep 2023 |title=Some clarification regarding security vs privacy in /e/OS |url=https://community.e.foundation/t/some-clarification-regarding-security-vs-privacy-in-e-os/51839 |url-status=live |access-date=15 Mar 2025 |website=[[e]]}}</ref>. However the situation is still much better than the millions of phones in active use that no longer get manufacturer support.

==References==

@@ Line 2: / Line 2: @@
 ==Background==
-'''[[Android]]''', the global top mobile operating system,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Mobile Operating System Market Share Worldwide |url=https://gs.statcounter.com/os-market-share/mobile/worldwide |url-status=live |access-date=15 Mar 2025 |website=[[StatCounter]]}}</ref> is used to power billions of devices globally. Tests have shown that Android phones transmit user data to Google on multiple occasions even when users try to restrict sharing of data via settings. This has encouraged increasing alarm over user privacy, transparency, and personal data control.
+'''[[Android]]''', the global top mobile operating system,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Mobile Operating System Market Share Worldwide |url=https://gs.statcounter.com/os-market-share/mobile/worldwide |url-status=live |access-date=15 Mar 2025 |website=[[StatCounter]]}}</ref> is used to power billions of devices globally. Tests have shown that Android phones with Google services transmit user data to Google on multiple occasions even when users try to restrict sharing of data via settings. This has encouraged increasing alarm over user privacy, transparency, and personal data control.
 A study found that data collection happens without any chance to opt out even before the user has even opened their first app.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Jones |first=Connor |date=4 Mar 2025 |title=How Google tracks Android device users before they've even opened an app |url=https://www.theregister.com/2025/03/04/google_android/ |access-date=2025-03-05 |website=The Register}}</ref>
@@ Line 9: / Line 9: @@
 ==Data sharing with Google==
-A research examined the frequency of data sharing between Google and Android phones.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Leith |first=Douglas J. |date=25 Mar 2021 |title=Mobile Handset Privacy: Measuring The Data iOS and Android Send to Apple And Google |url=https://www.scss.tcd.ie/doug.leith/apple_google.pdf |url-status=live |access-date=15 Mar 2025}}</ref> The research showed that even if an Android phone is set to minimal setting and left on its own, it shares data with Google on average every 4.5 minutes. The shared data includes sensitive information like:
+A research examined the frequency of data sharing between Google and Android phones with Google services.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Leith |first=Douglas J. |date=25 Mar 2021 |title=Mobile Handset Privacy: Measuring The Data iOS and Android Send to Apple And Google |url=https://www.scss.tcd.ie/doug.leith/apple_google.pdf |url-status=live |access-date=15 Mar 2025}}</ref> The research showed that even if an Android phone is set to minimal setting and left on its own, it shares data with Google on average every 4.5 minutes. The shared data includes sensitive information like:
 *IMEI (International Mobile Equipment Identity)
@@ Line 17: / Line 17: @@
 *Handset phone number
-In addition, Android sends telemetry data to Google even when customers directly decline to have their data collected. For instance, each time a SIM card is inserted into the device, Android sends its information to Google automatically.
+In addition, Google services on Android sends telemetry data to Google even when customers directly decline to have their data collected. For instance, each time a SIM card is inserted into the device, Google services sends its information to Google automatically.
 Data exchanged with Google by Google Messages and Google Dialer applications on an Android smartphone was also researched.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Leith |first=Douglas J. |date=28 Feb 2022 |title=What Data Do The Google Dialer and Messages Apps On Android Send to Google? |url=https://www.scss.tcd.ie/doug.leith/privacyofdialerandsmsapps.pdf |url-status=live |access-date=15 Mar 2025}}</ref> These applications report to Google whenever messages are being sent/received or calls are being received/made. Precisely:
@@ Line 37: / Line 37: @@
 ==Privacy respecting alternatives==
-Not many, if any, alternatives are available to users for completely avoiding this data sharing. Even attempts to disable data collection via settings, Android integration with Google services does make it impossible to fully discontinue the passing on of person and device details.<ref name=":0" />
+Not many alternatives are available to users for completely avoiding this data sharing. Attempts to disable data collection via settings, Android integration with Google services does make it impossible to fully discontinue the passing on of person and device details.<ref name=":0" />
-This is a serious cause of concern as far as user privacy and control over one's own data are concerned. Though some measures, such as the use of [[wikipedia:List_of_custom_Android_distributions|custom ROMs]] or privacy-focused applications, do cut down on sharing data, these are likely to require technical know-how and are not necessarily in the hands of the average user.
+The use of [[wikipedia:List_of_custom_Android_distributions|custom ROMs]] or privacy-focused applications, do cut down on sharing data, these are likely to require technical know-how and are not necessarily in the hands of the average user.
-French non-profit [https://murena.com/ Murena] sells devices pre-flashed with their de-googled Android version [https://e.foundation/ /e/ OS], making privacy friendly Android phones accessible to non-technical users. However, the project has a history of not always addressing security vulnerabilities in a timely manner<ref>{{Cite web |last=Duval |first=Gael |date=Sep 2023 |title=Some clarification regarding security vs privacy in /e/OS |url=https://community.e.foundation/t/some-clarification-regarding-security-vs-privacy-in-e-os/51839 |url-status=live |access-date=15 Mar 2025 |website=[[e]]}}</ref> and thus the user is required to make a certain tradeoff between privacy and security, though the situation is still much better than the millions of phones in active use that no longer get manufacturer support.
+In general, Google services which are the source of most of the data collection serve two functions:
+# Application dependencies, like network location services, debugging tooling, advertising services etc.
+# Application distribution
+An privacy replacing alternative should therefore have an alternative for these functions.
+Perhaps the only Google -free alternate configuration comprises of MicroG applications, which is an open source reimplementation of Google services. It provides necessary dependencies so that most of the applications which depend on Google services can function on a device without those Google services.
+As for application distribution, few alternate channels, such as F-droid and Aurora Store exists.
+[https://murena.com/ Murena], Fairphone and [https://iode.tech/ Iodé] sells devices pre-installed with de-googled Android based on LineageOS and MicroG, making privacy friendly Android phones accessible to non-technical users. However, the operating system called /e/ on Murena devices has a history of not always addressing security vulnerabilities in a timely manner<ref>{{Cite web |last=Duval |first=Gael |date=Sep 2023 |title=Some clarification regarding security vs privacy in /e/OS |url=https://community.e.foundation/t/some-clarification-regarding-security-vs-privacy-in-e-os/51839 |url-status=live |access-date=15 Mar 2025 |website=[[e]]}}</ref>. However the situation is still much better than the millions of phones in active use that no longer get manufacturer support.
 ==References==