Google follows Apple, looks to stop Android apps tracking users
Google’s changes sound similar to how Apple strips IDFA on iOS devices
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Googlewill soon introduce a mechanism to enhance the privacy protections ofAndroid users, according to details the company shared with Androidmobile app developers.
Google announced the change in an email to allPlay Storedevelopers, arguing that the proposed change will “give users more control over their data for greater security and privacy.”
As per the note, the company wants to make it harder for advertisers to track users as they move between apps. The update is similar to howApplestrengthened the privacy of iOS users by turning off tracking by default and allowing users to opt in when needed.
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Advertising ID
Google plans to add an additional opt-out option that will prevent their devices from sharing the Advertising ID that marketers use for tracking purposes.
Currently, Android users who have opted out of tracking and personalized advertising are still tagged by the Advertising ID when they open an app. This is because the Advertising ID is used for non-marketing purposes as well such as analytics and fraud detection.
However, to prevent unscrupulous marketers from exploiting the Advertising ID of users who’ve opted-out, beginning later this year, Android will spit out only a string of zeros, instead of the ID.
The update is similar to how Applestrips the ID for Advertising (IDFA)when iOS 14.5 users opt out of tracking. Google also recently asked developers toreveal detailsabout their data collection practices, in a move reminiscent of Apple’s use ofprivacy labelson its App Store.
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In a support page, Google informed the developers that it will release an alternative to the Advertising ID in July in order to support analytics and fraud detection use cases.
ViaThe Verge
With almost two decades of writing and reporting on Linux, Mayank Sharma would like everyone to think he’sTechRadar Pro’sexpert on the topic. Of course, he’s just as interested in other computing topics, particularly cybersecurity, cloud, containers, and coding.
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