Removed 'Safe Graph' from the Play Store, where Google collected and sold accurate user location information
On August 12, 2021, the IT news site Motherboard reported that Google has banned the services of location-based company SafeGraph from running on Android apps. This will force Android app developers to remove SafeGraph's location collection code from their app.
Google Bans Location Data Firm Funded by Former Saudi Intelligence Head
Google bans tracking tool that sold users' location data --The Verge
https://www.theverge.com/2021/8/12/22621685/google-ban-safegraph-android-user-data-location-tracking
SafeGraph is a location-based company founded with the investment of former heads of intelligence agencies in Saudi Arabia. The company reportedly had app developers pay money to add a location collection code to the app, and the information obtained was widely sold to government agencies, private companies, and the general public. thing.
Security researcher Zack Edwards, who is familiar with the data sales market, told Motherboard that 'they sell very fine-grained data and anyone with a credit card can buy it. I will. '
In fact, according to Motherboard, who bought a small dataset from SafeGraph for $ 200, the data includes a list of local attractions and where the next visitor goes. It was said that it contained information such as whether it was a tourist. For example, it seems that it was easy to obtain data that shows 'which convenience store the person who went to the church stopped by with his foot'.
After confirming that SafeGraph sells the information collected from Android apps to third parties, Google said in June 2021 that ' If you do not remove the SafeGraph SDK from the app within 7 days, the app will be stored in the Play Store. 'Remove from', he advised the developers.
This Google exclusion of Safe Graph follows Google and Apple's elimination of a location-based sales company called X-Mode in December 2020. It is reported that X-Mode collected location information from apps targeting Muslims and sold it to the U.S. military, and Google and Apple will remove the SDK from the app in response to this. He said he was asking the developers to do so.
Apple and Google eliminate apps that use 'software that provides user location information to the military'-GIGAZINE
Senator Ron Wyden, who has criticized the app's location gathering, said in a statement that he welcomed the move, but said, 'Google and Apple are slamming apps that sell location information for Americans. We need to make a practical plan to protect Americans, not just to eliminate them like this. '
Motherboard has also asked SafeGraph for comments multiple times, but no response has been obtained at the time of writing the article.
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