A recent report by Cybernews alleged that Google’s Pixel smartphone was sending private user information back to Google servers every 15 minutes, even before any apps were installed. The report claimed that data packets containing sensitive details such as email addresses, phone numbers, location, and network status were being transmitted.
Google has firmly denied these claims, stating that the report misinterprets technical details and lacks crucial context. The company explained that data transmissions are necessary for legitimate services on all mobile devices, regardless of the manufacturer, model, or operating system. These transmissions are essential for software updates, on-demand features, and personalized experiences.
Google emphasizes that user security and privacy are paramount and that Pixel users have the ability to manage data sharing, app permissions, and privacy settings during setup and through the device’s settings application.
In response to the report’s methodology, Google pointed out that the researchers may have modified the device, leading to unintended data checks. The report also lacked details regarding the user’s privacy settings, such as whether they agreed to share usage and diagnostic information with Google during setup.
Google further clarifies that legitimate services require data transmission, regardless of the device, manufacturer, or operating system. They emphasized the importance of these transmissions for essential functionalities and user experience enhancement.
