An internal program at Google known as “Android Lockbox” can give the company’s employees access to information about how Android users interact with popular, non-Google apps and services, according to a new report in The Information. The program, which works via Google Mobile Services, means that employees can reportedly see “sensitive” data about other apps, including how often they’re opened and for how long they’re used.
Sources claim this information has been used to keep tabs on rivals to Google’s Gmail service or to monitor Facebook and Instagram usage. Google is also thought to have used it to plan the launch of its TikTok competitor, Shorts. The Information notes that Google’s employees have to request permission to see this data in some cases, and that these requests are sometimes denied.
The Information reports that Android Lockbox gets its most useful information when users agree to share information with Google as part of the Android setup process. Users are told that this data allows Google to offer a more personalized experience, but The Information says it also provides data for competitive research.
And there’s the problem: The reason why someone is running a service reveals all. If the OS is ‘free’ then where do they make their money? It could be from selling the hardware but not in this case. Google’s business model is all about the value of the data and information. Yet there are open source solutions where the object is not to make money, but to give to the community, so don’t brush all ‘free’ software with the same comb.
See Google reportedly keeps tabs on usage of rival Android apps to develop competitors
Google’s CEO is due to testify in a congressional antitrust hearing.