Google refutes report that the Pixel 9 Pro XL is collecting too much personal data
A couple of days ago, Cybernews published a report that claimed that the Pixel 9 Pro XL shares personal info with Google every 15 minutes, before even setting up the device. This includes your location, your email address and phone number, app list and other telemetry.
However, the developers behind the privacy-focused Android fork called GrapheneOS point out that this is not unique to the Pixel 9 Pro XL â it is standard Android behavior. And not just that, they point out that iOS collects pretty much the same information.
Cybernews had reached out to Google before publishing the report and this was the response from Mountain View:
âUser security and privacy are top priorities for Pixel. You can manage data sharing, app permissions and more during device setup and in your settings. This report lacks crucial context, misinterprets technical details and doesn't fully explain that data transmissions are needed for legitimate services on all mobile devices regardless of the manufacturer, model or OS, such as software updates, on-demand features and personalized experiences,â a Google spokesperson said.
Additionally, Google has been making changes to make Android more private. Late last year, it announced that it will be moving the Your Timeline feature (a detailed track with your location history) on your device. Previously, it was stored in the cloud.
If you havenât already, you will soon receive an email asking you to change your settings â you can move location history on device or switch on the auto-delete option (which automatically wipes the data in 3 or 18 months, depending on preference).
You can learn more about what data is collected by Google and why on this page about the Google Play Services.