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Doubts the default Calling and Messaging application on Android tracking users-Information Technology

Thursday, March 24, 2022 09:00 AM (GMT+7)

Recently, privacy advocates have expressed concern about Google’s access to Messages and Calls metadata.

In recent years, technology “giants” have not stopped collecting and using user data. Self Google has focused on improving the privacy of its products and services. However, the latest research revealed, however, that Google’s Messages and Calling apps were collecting and sending user data to the company’s servers, potentially in violation of the GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation). General Information Security Regulations) of the European Union.

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Douglas Leith, professor of computer science at Trinity College Dublin, said that Google’s Messages and Calls app sent data to the company’s servers without the user’s consent. More specifically, these apps collect information about the user’s communication, including the SHA256 algorithm of messages and times, phone numbers, incoming and outgoing call logs, and call duration and length. .

This information is then shared with Google’s servers using the Google Play Services Clearcut logging service and the Firebase Analytics service. The data will help the company link the sender and receiver of a message or two devices in a call, enabling features like spam filtering and advertising caller ID.

Although only about 128-bits of the algorithm are shared with Google’s servers, short texts can be exposed. However, experts have yet to see any solid evidence of encryption breaking. In other words, this is just a rumor.

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The study further emphasizes that neither of Google’s apps has a privacy policy to explain what data is being collected. Meanwhile, this is what the company requires from third-party apps on the Google Play app store.

In fact, users cannot download information when using Google Takeout to export data associated with their accounts. Google Play Services informs users that some data is collected for security and fraud prevention, but there is no explanation as to why exactly message content and call information are collected. collect.

The Google Messages app is installed on millions of devices Android worldwide, including the Galaxy S22 series. The Calling app is also the default dialer on smartphone from manufacturers like Xiaomi, Realme, and Motorola, so it’s a huge privacy oversight. However, Google may have knowingly ignored user consent and withheld information about the data it was collecting.

It’s not yet clear whether Google’s apps are GDPR compliant and if they’re in violation of the regulation. The company will be subject to a GDPR investigation and fines if the apps are found to be in violation.

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