The Android operating system is the most used Linux based operating system on mobile devices or tablets. It is developed by Google ideally for touchscreen devices, cell phones and tablets.
Today Android software is used in television, cars, and wristwatches too.
Android.Inc., which was eventually acquired by Google in 2005, was the first company to develop the Android operating system.
ANDROID OPERATING SYSTEM IS A SERVICE PROVIDED BY GOOGLE.THEREIN, ANDROID ADHERES TO THE PRIVACY POLICY OF GOOGLE IN A BROADER ASPECT.
Considering this, Google claims that they collect information from the users to provide better services to them.
Google complies with the EU-U.S. and Swiss-U.S. Privacy Shield Frameworks (for European union member countries, UK and Switzerland). Put forward by the US Department of Commerce, for collecting, using and retaining of personal information.
Android complies with EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). This regulation strengths the rights of user’s over their data and its privacy.
What information is collected by Google from Android operating devices?
- From an Android device with Google apps: Android devices with google app includes devices sold by Google or one of their partners (phone, cameras, vehicles, wearables and television). These devices have pre-installed apps like Gmail, maps, user’s phone’s camera and phone dialer, text-to-speech conversion, keyboard input and security features. So the device with the android operating service periodically contacts google servers, to provide information regarding the user’s device. Such information includes device type, carrier name, and the apps installed on the device.
- Information regarding near bouts of the device: If the user uses Google’s Location services on Android, like Google Maps. The device sends information to Google about its location, sensors, and nearby cell towers and Wi-Fi access points. All these things help to determine a user’s location. The type of location data collected depends upon the part of the device and account settings, the user can turn the location of the android device off if they don’t want the servers to access their information.
What are the changes made in Android 10 regarding privacy?
1. Changes in storage
Apps can access the scoped storage (external storage): By default, the apps in android can access the external storage of the device or scoped storage. They can access a few types of files without the need for any permission from the user:
-
- Files in the app-specific directory.
- Photos, videos, and audio clips that the app retrieved from the media collection.
How does it work?
The operating system automatically scans the scoped storage or external storage. And collect the files from there and add them to the well-defined collections. For instance: Images, including photographs and screenshots, are stored in the DCIM or picture directories. The system adds these files to the Media store. Images. Videos, which are stored in the DCIM, Movies, and pictures directories. The system adds these files to the Media store. Video.
If the app is used on an Android 9 or lower device that does not support the feature of scoped storage. Then the app needs to request permission to READ EXTERNAL STORAGE to access media files.
2. Changes regarding location detection
- Access to Device location: The app cannot access to device location in the android operating system unless the installer or user gives permission. There is a new feature added to android 10, called “ACCESS BACKGROUND LOCATION” permission. Due to this feature, the app can get access to the location of the device, only when it runs in the background (if an app used a service to compact its storage that would usually be a background service.). Along with the permission of the user. The app can access location in the background only when the activity belonging to the app is not visible, the app is not running a foreground service (a notification or playing an audio track).In the case of android 9 or lower such permission is granted automatically.
- ACCESS FINE LOCATION: This feature allows an app to access the precise location of the device using the Android operating system. Android 10 must-have ACCESS FINE LOCATION permission to use several methods within the wi-fi, wi-fi aware or Bluetooth APIs.
3. Changes regarding contacts access in Android 10 device
Contacts in the device: Android 10 has removed the contacts affinity. It does not keep track of contact-related information. So, now If the app searches the user’s contacts. The results are not ordered by frequency of interaction.
4. Changes regarding Unique identifiers
A unique identifier or MAC address: A MAC address is a unique identifier that is given to the network adapter when it is manufactured. It is hardcoded in the device network. The IP address is translated into MAC address.
On devices using Android 10 or higher: The System shares the randomized MAC addresses by default.
5. Changes regarding clipboard data access
The apps installed on an Android operating system cannot access clipboard data (copied data, stored for a short term). Unless the app uses default input method editor (IME) i.e. on-screen keyboards or even speech input.
6. Changes regarding access to details of USB
Protected USB device serial number: The app cannot use the serial number of the USB device or accessory until the user grants permission.
7. Changes regarding access to screen content
Limited access to screen content: Android 10 prohibits silent access to the screen of the device. Access to the screen of the device uses signature access permission (Such permission is granted by the operating system at the time of installation of the app) only. Except that, if an app wants access to the device’s screen contents, should use media projection (ability to capture screen contents or record system audio). Which requires user consent.
8. Changes in activity tracking
Recognition of physical activity on the device: Android 10 introduced a new feature that asks for permission before detecting a user’s physical activity such as, Walking, biking or moving in a vehicle.
What is Activity Recognition or Auto Grant permission?
In the android 9 operating system, the system auto-grants the ACTIVITY RECOGNITION permission to the app, under the following conditions:
- The file includes the permission.
- The file does not include ACTIVITY RECOGNITION permission.
In case of auto grant ACTIVITY RECOGNITION permission. The app retains the permission even when the device is updated to android 10. Although such permission can be revoked at any time in system settings.
Does android share personal information outside google for legal reasons?
Google shares personal information outside its ambit. If Google believes that such information is necessarily required to:
- Meet any applicable law, regulation, legal process, or enforceable governmental request. Google receives requests regularly from governments and courts around the world to disclose user data. Such requests are reviewed by the legal team. The requests are rejected if found overbroad.
- Detect, prevent, or mitigate fraud, security, or technological issues in some other way.
- Protect Google and its users against any harm.
REFERENCES
- Privacy changes in android 10, DEVELOPERS (Oct. 16, 2020, 06:30 PM), https://developer.android.com/about/versions/10/privacy/changes.
- Permission groups, PERMISSION OVERVIEW (Oct. 16, 2020, 07:00 PM), https://developer.android.com/guide/topics/permissions/overview#perm-groups.
- Activity recognition, MANIFEST PERMISSION (Oct. 16, 2020, 07:05PM), https://developer.android.com/reference/android/Manifest.permission#ACTIVITY_RECOGNITION.
- Data and files storage overview, DOCUMENTATION (Oct. 16, 2020, 07:30 PM), https://developer.android.com/training/data-storage#scoped-storage.
- Camera manager, DOCUMENTATION (Oct. 16, 2020, 07:40 PM), https://developer.android.com/reference/android/hardware/camera2/CameraManager#getCameraCharacteristics(java.lang.String).
- Create an input method, DOCUMENTATION (Oct. 16, 2020. 08:00 PM), https://developer.android.com/guide/topics/text/creating-input-method.
- Privacy and terms, GOOGLE (Oct. 16, 2020, 08:30 PM), https://policies.google.com/privacy?hl=en.
