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Australian regulator investigates Google data harvesting from Android phones

theguardian.com

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Re: Australian regulator investigates Google data harvesting from Android phones

#11

Post by _bxg1 »

ocdtrekkie wrote: post #3

So, my read on it is basically that the claim is that Google's data collection on Android costs users a lot of money in data charges. It's probably a fairly reasonable point to bring up since almost everything could be done on-device if Google didn't have specific interest in people's user data, but it's also very hard to argue that Google doesn't have user permission to do it, assuming EULAs nobody reads or can unde…

Yeah. I'm no Google apologist, but Oracle has repeatedly shown itself to be whiny and petty, especially when it comes to Android. It isn't news that if you're running Google software on Android, they're tracking every bit of data they can get their hands on.

Re: Australian regulator investigates Google data harvesting from Android phones

#12

Post by ocdtrekkie »

_bxg1 wrote: post #11
ocdtrekkie wrote: post #3

So, my read on it is basically that the claim is that Google's data collection on Android costs users a lot of money in data charges. It's probably a fairly reasonable point to bring up since almost everything could be done on-device if Google didn't have specific interest in people's user data, but it's also very hard to argue that Google doesn't have user permission to do it, assuming EULAs nobody reads or can unde…

Yeah. I'm no Google apologist, but Oracle has repeatedly shown itself to be whiny and petty, especially when it comes to Android. It isn't news that if you're running Google software on Android, they're tracking every bit of data they can get their hands on.

It isn't news to you or me, but a surprising number of government investigations haven't happened, that should've. I appreciate Oracle's help in the matter, even if I have no particular love for them either.

If someday someone's writing the "why we failed" article for Google, I suspect bullet one will be "we should've paid for our Java license". Whether or not what Google did was technically legal, the amount of scrutiny they've faced thanks to Oracle being ticked at them alone is monumental.

Re: Australian regulator investigates Google data harvesting from Android phones

#13

Post by gpm »

mike_n wrote: post #2

Is it not assumed/expected that if you're using android then google has access to all your phone's data/sensors?

Of course it isn't. I own the phone, not Google.

Do you expect Apple to listen to your conversations just because you use a mac and it has a microphone? Do you expect Toyota to track you everywhere you go because your car came with a GPS system?

Building the system, let alone just making the software, doesn't give you the rights to all the data it produces after you sell it.

Re: Australian regulator investigates Google data harvesting from Android phones

#14

Post by x0x0 »

ocdtrekkie wrote: post #8
toomuchtodo wrote: post #4

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This might be another situation where GDPR saves the day; Google will need to push updates out to limit their data collection, as well as reveal the full scope of their data collection activities with Android.

(In the EU) This particular story/investigation appears to be in Australia. Google's only required to limit their tendency to stalk your every waking moment in the EU. While some of the improvements made will probably end up being available globally just because, for instance, improvements to Google Takeout-like work, I doubt Google's going to stop tracking you where it's still legally permissible.

They may though because of the difficulty of deciding if you are subject to GDPR. ie what if an Aussie moves to the EEU and becomes a resident, bringing an Australian-purchased phone? How long can someone visit the EEU before becoming a resident (I have no idea and suspect the rules may not be crystal clear.)

Re: Australian regulator investigates Google data harvesting from Android phones

#15

Post by magicalist »

The title should be the headline

> ACCC investigating Oracle research showing Google users Android phone plan data to spy

(typo is theirs)

And by "investigating" it means Oracle did a presentation stating that if you have location history on it uses data and the commission chairman told News Corp Australia, "my people are looking into it."

> That Oracle had come to Australia to do the presentation showed the value of the ACCC inquiry, he said.

lol

Re: Australian regulator investigates Google data harvesting from Android phones

#16

Post by oldcynic »

gpm wrote: post #13
mike_n wrote: post #2

Is it not assumed/expected that if you're using android then google has access to all your phone's data/sensors?

Of course it isn't. I own the phone, not Google. Do you expect Apple to listen to your conversations just because you use a mac and it has a microphone? Do you expect Toyota to track you everywhere you go because your car came with a GPS system? Building the system, let alone just making the software, doesn't give you the rights to all the data it produces after you sell it.

Yet most of the large corporations are taking exactly that view. GDPR can't come soon enough.

Re: Australian regulator investigates Google data harvesting from Android phones

#17

Post by patrickg_zill »

Google is fundamentally dishonest.

Example: my phone has both a Wifi and GPS chip. I open Maps and it tells me it can't give me navigation unless I turn on Location Services or whatever, which allows them to use the Wifi to scan for APs or whatever else they do.

It's 100% a lie, because any other GPS based navigation system (such as TomTom, Magellan GPS devices) can in fact do this; and they have far less CPU power than my phone does.

Re: Australian regulator investigates Google data harvesting from Android phones

#18

Post by chrisper »

patrickg_zill wrote: post #17

Google is fundamentally dishonest. Example: my phone has both a Wifi and GPS chip. I open Maps and it tells me it can't give me navigation unless I turn on Location Services or whatever, which allows them to use the Wifi to scan for APs or whatever else they do. It's 100% a lie, because any other GPS based navigation system (such as TomTom, Magellan GPS devices) can in fact do this; and they have far less CPU power t…

As far as I understand is that "Location Services" is a catch all for wifi,gps etc.

But if you only want it to use GPS, then change Location Services from High Accuracy to GPS only.

Re: Australian regulator investigates Google data harvesting from Android phones

#19

Post by tensor »

patrickg_zill wrote: post #17

Google is fundamentally dishonest. Example: my phone has both a Wifi and GPS chip. I open Maps and it tells me it can't give me navigation unless I turn on Location Services or whatever, which allows them to use the Wifi to scan for APs or whatever else they do. It's 100% a lie, because any other GPS based navigation system (such as TomTom, Magellan GPS devices) can in fact do this; and they have far less CPU power t…

That's not a lie, it's describing the way they wrote their software. Yes, they could have written it to use only GPS, but it's not written that way.

Re: Australian regulator investigates Google data harvesting from Android phones

#20

Post by [deleted] »

patrickg_zill wrote: post #17

Google is fundamentally dishonest. Example: my phone has both a Wifi and GPS chip. I open Maps and it tells me it can't give me navigation unless I turn on Location Services or whatever, which allows them to use the Wifi to scan for APs or whatever else they do. It's 100% a lie, because any other GPS based navigation system (such as TomTom, Magellan GPS devices) can in fact do this; and they have far less CPU power t…

[deleted]
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