Google Collects 20 Times More Data on Android Than Apple Does on iPhone: Study

Google collects more data from Android users than Apple does from iOS users, a new research report states. Researchers from Trinity College Dublin, Ireland, compared the data that a Pixel phone shared with Google with what iPhones share with Apple and found that Google collects 20 times more handset data than Apple. The research also found that even when “minimally configured” the Pixel and iPhone models shared data quite frequently, on average. According to a report, Google disagrees with the methodology behind the research.

The research conducted by Douglas J. Leith and his team from Trinity College Dublin on mobile handset privacy pit a Pixel phone made by Google against an iPhone made by Apple against each other to see which manufacturer collects more user data. It found that both Pixel and iPhone models shared data with their respective manufacturers every 4.5 mins on average. The data collected includes IMEI, hardware serial number, SIM serial number and IMSI, handset phone number and more, as well as telemetry.

When a user inserts a SIM in either of these smartphones, both Google and Apple are sent details. It was found that iOS sends the MAC addresses of nearby devices to Apple as well as their GPS location. iOS users cannot opt out of this and there seem to be almost no realistic options for preventing this. When not logged in, while both phones send IMEI, hardware serial number, SIM serial number, and phone number to the manufacturers, Google collects Android ID, Resettable Device Identifier or Ad ID that is used for measurement and ads (RDID/Ad ID), and DroidGuard key that is used to device attestation. In comparison, Apple only collects UDID and Ad ID.

Apple was found to collect user's location even when not logged in, as well as the local IP address whereas Google did not. Google also collected Wi-Fi MAC address while Apple did not. Both operating systems send telemetry data even when the user opts out of it. Within 10 minutes of startup, Google collects about 1MB of data while Apple collects about 42KB. When left idle, Google collects about 1MB data every 12 hours while Apple collects about 52KB.

A report by Arstechnica, who first spotted the research, cites a Google spokesperson who states that Google disagrees with the methodology of this research.

“We identified flaws in the researcher's methodology for measuring data volume and disagree with the paper's claims that an Android device shares 20 times more data than an iPhone. According to our research, these findings are off by an order of magnitude, and we shared our methodology concerns with the researcher before publication.” It goes on to say, “This research largely outlines how smartphones work. Modern cars regularly send basic data about vehicle components, their safety status and service schedules to car manufacturers, and mobile phones work in very similar ways. This report details those communications, which help ensure that iOS or Android software is up to date, services are working as intended, and that the phone is secure and running efficiently.”

The report adds that as per the representative, saying that an Android user can opt out of sharing telemetry data is “inaccurate”. Google considers this data crucial for the Android device to operate normally and that telemetry data is not covered under Android Usage and Diagnostics.

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