Starting from 2017, all Android Phones have been sending addresses of various devices and sending then to Google’s database.
This was disclosed in an investigation report by Quartz on Thursday, Google admits to collecting Android users’ location
“It seems quite intrusive for Google to be collecting such information that is only relevant to carrier networks when there are no SIM card or enabled services,’’ Matthew Hickey, a security expert and researcher, told media in London.
Therefore Google has access to data about individuals’ locations and movements, even when their phones are turned off or disconnected from the Internet, which violates the privacy of smartphone users.
The spokesperson said the collected data was never used or stored and promised that by the end of November, Android phones would no longer send cellular tower location data to Google.
