Following massive investigations, Facebook was caught red-handed with its hands all over the cookie jar of user data. However, with privacy issues at an all-time high, several other fingerprints were found peppered throughout our entire social lives.
This time, cybersecurity pundits have set their sights on Google. The tech giant is reportedly harvesting data illegally from Android devices.
Recently, the software company Oracle has sent reports on Google’s activities to the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC). The organization focuses on investigating large corporations of any anomalies.
According to the reports, Google’s data-collecting focuses on location tracking — where you go and where you are. More surprisingly, Oracle claims that Google’s tracking works even if users turn off their location services. Google can analyze location based on which hotspots you connect to or where you turn your data on.
Regardless, Google has always practiced location tracking even prior to the report. The company has used GPS information to improve both its advertisements and the quality of its software, as stated in Android’s terms and conditions. Google even argues that users can opt out of this at any time. The report asks whether Google obtained this data legally.
While Oracle’s report remains believable for the most part, a more outlandish claim states that removing your SIM card or turning your phone off won’t abate Google’s tracking. The report also claims that Google sends in 1GB per month of information back to its headquarters, at the user’s data expense.
Regardless of its overall integrity, the report has successfully piqued the ACCC’s interest. Despite being an Australian organization, the ACCC’s reach extends across the globe. Most notably, a previous investigation caused gaming platform Steam to issue a worldwide refund policy.
Despite their interest, the ACCC is still thoroughly investigating the issue. Of note, Oracle has tried to discredit Google before. The commission is ensuring that both sides are getting their fair share of justice.
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