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Google collects metadata from Android phones

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Re: Google collects metadata from Android phones

#21

Post by cm3 »

ocdtrekkie wrote: post #16
api wrote: post #12

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Hmm... so effectively Android is no longer open.

It is a challenging definition, but I would argue that it is not. Because while the core OS is open, you are not effectively able to fork it. Google's developer advocates heavily encourages the use of proprietary Google APIs in app development, which binds those apps to Google's proprietary packages. I guess the question is how you define a platform or an operating system, but I think that the platform apps on it run…

Is there a page to check what popular app does not work on F-Droid or Cyanogen? Say something like Nokia's mapping app.

Re: Google collects metadata from Android phones

#22

Post by DKnoll »

ocdtrekkie wrote: post #10
cm3 wrote: post #3

Is there an Android fork where this isn't a problem and which you could suggest?

Part of the problem is the large percentage of apps that are now tied to proprietary Android, and won't run without Google Apps installed. Even Microsoft apps like Outlook and Skype won't load without Google Play Services installed. (The version of Skype on the Amazon Appstore is around a year old, and won't even take my login credentials.) So even if you find a relatively safe Android version to use, you're getting…

You're not missing out with Outlook... it's absolute garbage on Android. Use Nine instead, it's better and will work without Google Play Services.

Re: Google collects metadata from Android phones

#23

Post by lost_name »

For what it's worth, I have my doubts that this applies to a generic call/sms on any old Android device. I would think it's more likely to apply to services such as the Hangouts calling or Google Voice, and probably Google Fi, all of which make sense to collect that data, but the privacy policy doesn't absolve itself of that.

> When this Privacy Policy applies

> Our Privacy Policy applies to all of the services offered by Google Inc. and its affiliates, including YouTube, services Google provides on Android devices, and services offered on other sites (such as our advertising services), but excludes services that have separate privacy policies that do not incorporate this Privacy Policy.

Re: Google collects metadata from Android phones

#24

Post by ocdtrekkie »

DKnoll wrote: post #22
ocdtrekkie wrote: post #10

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Part of the problem is the large percentage of apps that are now tied to proprietary Android, and won't run without Google Apps installed. Even Microsoft apps like Outlook and Skype won't load without Google Play Services installed. (The version of Skype on the Amazon Appstore is around a year old, and won't even take my login credentials.) So even if you find a relatively safe Android version to use, you're getting…

You're not missing out with Outlook... it's absolute garbage on Android. Use Nine instead, it's better and will work without Google Play Services.

Yeah, that's fair. Unfortunately, Skype is the requirement for me. I just noted Outlook because a Microsoft PM for it said Play Services was required and there wasn't any way around it.

Re: Google collects metadata from Android phones

#25

Post by ocdtrekkie »

cm3 wrote: post #21
ocdtrekkie wrote: post #16

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It is a challenging definition, but I would argue that it is not. Because while the core OS is open, you are not effectively able to fork it. Google's developer advocates heavily encourages the use of proprietary Google APIs in app development, which binds those apps to Google's proprietary packages. I guess the question is how you define a platform or an operating system, but I think that the platform apps on it run…

Is there a page to check what popular app does not work on F-Droid or Cyanogen? Say something like Nokia's mapping app.

I don't know, but please tell me if you find one. I have F-Droid and Play on my phone, and disabled Google Play Services to see how many of the apps I have installed and use continued to work. Many gave me "must update Play Services" dialogs, some just crashed outright. I've been trying to transition to open apps or apps available outside the Play Store, but unfortunately, Skype is one need I can't work around right now.

Re: Google collects metadata from Android phones

#27

Post by supernovae »

jswny wrote: post #15

Are people really surprised about this anymore? I can't say that I am. Google is a company which makes a lot of money off of their platforms. I expect them to be collecting data wherever and whenever they can. I see stories like this every day but I've become accustomed to it because it's such a normal practice nowadays, especially from a company like google which provides so many advertising services. I'm not saying…

Maybe not surprised, but they begrudge everyone else for this more than they do google, and that's what I think sucks. It seems OK for Apple/Google to do whatever they need to do to have a competitive app store with all its analytics and understanding its customer to sell it advertising but if other companies do it, its all the sudden the sky is falling

Re: Google collects metadata from Android phones

#28

Post by whamlastxmas »

jswny wrote: post #15

Are people really surprised about this anymore? I can't say that I am. Google is a company which makes a lot of money off of their platforms. I expect them to be collecting data wherever and whenever they can. I see stories like this every day but I've become accustomed to it because it's such a normal practice nowadays, especially from a company like google which provides so many advertising services. I'm not saying…

I make the same assumption and the chilling effect is frustrating. I assume everything I type on the internet is able to be tied back to me if anyone at the NSA etc wanted to look at me specifically. Unless you always use a VPN (or Tor) for all of your accounts and go through the unreasonable efforts of preventing browser fingerprinting, chances are this is true for everyone. And even those efforts are thwarted if they seize your devices, unless you use something like Tails OS.

Anonymity on the internet is dead for the regular user and it sucks. I wish something like Freenet was better and had more users/content.

Re: Google collects metadata from Android phones

#29

Post by cm3 »

ocdtrekkie wrote: post #25
cm3 wrote: post #21

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Is there a page to check what popular app does not work on F-Droid or Cyanogen? Say something like Nokia's mapping app.

I don't know, but please tell me if you find one. I have F-Droid and Play on my phone, and disabled Google Play Services to see how many of the apps I have installed and use continued to work. Many gave me "must update Play Services" dialogs, some just crashed outright. I've been trying to transition to open apps or apps available outside the Play Store, but unfortunately, Skype is one need I can't work around right…

I suppose Skype might work in a mobile browser via WebRTC, but from what I gather it's not there yet.
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