Android devices and iPhones share data with their respective companies on average every 4½ minutes, with data being sent back even when idle in the pocket or purse, according to a new academic study.
The Trinity College Dublin survey raised new privacy concerns about smartphones, with the survey stating that there was little difference between Apple and Google when it came to collecting certain data.
The study, published by Professor Doug Leith in Trinity’s Connect Center, says that iPhones offer no greater privacy than Google devices.
However, the study noted that Google devices collected “a noticeably greater amount of device data than Apple”, with 1 MB of data being sent from Google Pixel devices idle every 12 hours, compared with 52 KB sent of the iPhone.
Among the data potentially returned by the devices were the insertion of a SIM and details of the device, such as the hardware serial number, IMEI, Wifi MAC address and phone number.
“I think most people accept that Apple and Google need to collect data from our phones to provide services like iCloud or Google Drive. But when we simply use our phones as phones – to make and receive calls and nothing more – it is much more difficult to see why Apple and Google need to collect data, ”said Prof Leith.
“Still, in this study, we found that Apple and Google collect a wealth of information in precisely this situation. It seems excessive and it is difficult to see why it is necessary. “
Leith said it was disappointing to see so much data being collected by Apple, in particular, as the company had talked a lot about user privacy in the past.
He said the devices not only collected data about the device’s activity, but also about nearby devices; when a user connects to a wifi network, the WiFi MAC addresses of other devices on the network are sent to Apple.
“The WiFi MAC address identifies a device on a WiFi network and thus, for example, uniquely identifies your home router, coffee access point or office network. This means that Apple can track the people you are close to, as well as when and where. This is very worrying. ”
He said that users cannot cancel data collection.
Concerns
The survey highlighted some of the main concerns about collecting such data, noting that the device’s data can be linked to other data sources, including web browsing and shopping.
“This survey describes how smartphones work,” said a Google spokesman. “Modern cars regularly send basic data about vehicle components, their safety status and service hours to car manufacturers, and cell phones work in very similar ways. This report details these communications, which helps to ensure that the iOS or Android software is up to date, the services are working as expected and that the phone is secure and working efficiently. “
Apple has yet to comment on the study.