Consumer Groups Urge FTC to Probe Android Location-Tracking

Investigate “deceptive and misleading” location-tracking practices of Android users by Google, more than 75 consumer groups wrote the FTC Tuesday. Citing a Norwegian Consumer Council report, the Transatlantic Consumer Dialogue (TACD) claimed Google “manipulates and nudges users” into constant tracking via location history and activity online and through apps, which is applied across all Google accounts and violates the EU’s general data protection regulation. Among claims: users are pushed into location history tracking without knowing, misled about the extent of data collection, and default settings are hidden. TACD includes the Center for Digital Democracy, Electronic Frontier Foundation and Electronic Privacy Information Center. A Google spokesperson emailed that location history is turned off by default, and users can edit, delete or pause it. If paused, depending on individual settings, the company might collect and use location data to “improve your Google experience,” the spokesperson said: “We’re constantly working to improve our controls, and we'll be reading this report closely to see if there are things we can take on board.” The FTC received the letter, its spokesperson said.