Android could copy the iPhone's best privacy features — what you need to know

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Android could copy the iPhone's best privacy features — what you lot need to know

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At that place's been a large pushback against companies tracking your activity online in recent years, especially on mobile. Apple has already taken measures to limit it, with more on the mode, and it sounds like Android might be following its example.

According to a written report from Bloomberg, "Google is exploring its ain alternative to Apple tree'south anti-tracking feature." Specifically, the measure is said to be about limiting data collection and cross-app tracking methods.

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Apple limiting tracking is one matter, merely Google getting on board is a big bargain, given its reliance on advertizing revenue.

User data is often used to personalize adverts, in an attempt to make them more relevant to the viewer. So by limiting tracking on Android, Google could well be curtailing its own attempts to brand coin.

Apple tree doesn't take this issue, since it has no stake in the advertizement business. Instead, Cupertino chooses to earn the bulk of its money from services like the App Shop and device sales.

Google'due south advert business is worth over $100 billion in annual sales, so the company is said to be taking input from advertisers and developers equally information technology develops a new privacy standard dubbed the "Privacy Sandbox."

For this reason, Android's anti-tracking arrangement is said to be "less stringent" than Apple'due south. While Apple'south upcoming privacy overhaul volition specifically prompt users to opt-in for data tracking, Android's will not. Information technology's all as part of a balancing human action to ensure user privacy is being maintained, without angering the advertisers in the procedure.

Bloomberg noted that the new arrangement on Android could be like to changes that are happening to Google Chrome next year. Google's plan is to phase out third-political party cookies, which tin can rails users around the web to serve ads.

The new Android privacy initiative is still in its early stages, and Google reportedly "hasn't decided when, or if, it volition get alee with the changes." No dubiousness a lot of work is going to be needed to avert the same advertizement industry backlash that Apple tree has been experiencing in recent months. And dissimilar Apple, Google really has something to lose past getting on the advertisers' bad side.

So don't expect things to suddenly change with the launch of Android 12, though stranger things accept happened.

Tom is the Tom's Guide'due south Automotive Editor, which means he can commonly be constitute knee deep in stats the latest and best electric cars, or checking out some sort of driving gadget. Information technology's long way from his days every bit editor of Gizmodo United kingdom, when pretty much everything was on the table. He's commonly found trying to squeeze another giant Lego set up onto the shelf, draining very big cups of coffee, or complaining that Ikea won't let him buy the stuff he actually needs online.

Source: https://www.tomsguide.com/news/android-could-copy-the-iphones-best-privacy-features-what-you-need-to-know

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