A new study by Professor Doug Leith from Trinity College Dublin has uncovered that Android devices track users before they even open their first app, raising major privacy concerns and potential legal challenges for Google.

Key Findings:

📌 Unavoidable Tracking: Android pre-installed apps (Google Play Services, Play Store) start collecting data before users engage with any Google apps.
📌 DSID Cookie: A two-week advertising tracker is placed on devices immediately after logging into a Google account, with no consent or opt-out option.
📌 Android ID: A device-linked identifier that remains active even after a user logs out. The only way to remove it? A full factory reset.
📌 Potential GDPR Violation: Google acknowledges that some of this data could be classified as personally identifiable information (PII), possibly bringing it under EU and UK GDPR laws.

Google’s Response:

Google refused to comment on legal aspects and did not confirm if changes would be made. A spokesperson stated that Android prioritizes user privacy and complies with applicable laws.

SafetyCore Controversy

🔍 SafetyCore, a recent Android update that scans images for explicit content, has sparked backlash.
⚠️ Users say it was installed without consent and, in some cases, cannot be removed.
📢 Google claims it runs only on-device and does not share data, but negative reviews flood its Play Store page, with users calling it spyware.

What This Means for Users

⚠️ More hidden tracking mechanisms than previously known.
⚖️ Potential lawsuits or regulatory action if laws were breached.
🔧 Limited control over privacy settings, as some features cannot be disabled.

Related: DOJ Still Wants Google to Sell-Off Chrome: What It Means for Big Tech

Next S&P 500 Inclusion Coming: Here are Potential Stock Additions

Congress Trading: A Spotlight on Ecolab (ECL)

Trump’s Bitcoin Reserve: A Game-Changer or a Market Shock?

TSMC and Intel Investments at Risk as Trump Targets $52B CHIPS Act

What Analysts Think of Broadcom Stock Ahead of Q1 Earnings?

What Analysts Think of BigBear.ai Stock Ahead of Earnings?

The 10 Stocks Hedge Funds Love—and Hate—the Most

Why Is the Stock Market Still Panicking after Nvidia Strong Earnings…?

After Trump announced the US Strategic Crypto Reserve, What’s coming next?