Additional information revealed one after another in Google's 'problem that continued to collect information even if location information was turned off'
Arizona has filed a lawsuit against Google over the issue that 'Google apps continue to collect location information even if the location information of the device is invalidated.' Newly disclosed information on May 29, 2021 reveals that Google has taken various steps to prevent location information from being turned off.
THE SUPERIOR COURT OF THE STATE OF ARIZONA IN AND FOR THE COUNTY OF MARICOPA
(PDF file)
Google reportedly made it difficult for smartphone users to find privacy settings --The Verge
https://www.theverge.com/2021/5/29/22460070/google-difficult-android-privacy-settings-arizona
In August 2018, the Associated Press reported that 'some Google apps keep track of location and store data even if the user turns off location information on the device.' In this report, turning off location tracking doesn't disable all location tracking, and even disables 'web and app activity' in your Google account, which is enabled by default. The problem was that location information would continue to be tracked if it was not done, and the procedure for disabling all tracking functions was complicated.
Google app turns out to keep track and collect location data even if location information is disabled-GIGAZINE
The Arizona Prosecutor's Office has embarked on this issue, accusing Google of 'violating Arizona's Consumer Fraud Act' in May 2020. In the evidence filed in the proceedings, it was revealed that even Google employees recognized that the setting to turn off location information in the Google app was too esoteric.
Google employees recognized that 'setting to collect location information even if the location information of the Google app is turned off' is misleading and esoteric --GIGAZINE
On May 29, 2021, the part of the evidence document that was blacked out at the time of its first publication will be partially released by the order of the judge. In this newly published part, Google uses various means to collect user location information, and even third-party apps that are not affiliated with Google share location information with Google. Turned out to have been forced. There is also a sentence that a Google employee confirmed to other employees, 'Isn't it possible for third-party apps to share location information without going through Google?'
It's also clear that Google is designing an ecosystem for location gathering, and that Google employees admit that 'there are few ways to give Google your location.' 'The only way to prevent Google from guessing your home and work address is to set a false address,' said Jack Menzel, Google's vice president of maps.
In addition, Google has also submitted data that the search effect was reduced in Android 4.4 KitKat, which implemented a function that can easily turn off location tracking, and search results based on location information It is also clear that we were working to improve the ability to display.
In addition, Google has obscured the existence of a feature that turns off location tracking, and has sought to get manufacturers using other Android operating systems to do the same. It is known. The disclosed text states that Google has caused LG to reposition the location setting toggle.
According to foreign media The Verge, a Google spokeswoman said in a statement about the proceedings, 'Competition is misrepresenting our service, we always have privacy features built into our products and location-based robustness. It provides control. '
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