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Meta and Yandex Under Scrutiny for Android User Tracking
Recent investigations have revealed serious privacy concerns involving two tech giants, Meta (the parent company of Facebook and Instagram) and the Russian search engine Yandex. According to comprehensive research conducted by Radboud University in the Netherlands and IMDEA Networks, both companies have been accused of covertly tracking Android users through their background apps—without explicit user consent.
How Meta and Yandex Collected User Data
The report, highlighted by Sky News, details that Meta and Yandex leveraged Android applications to monitor users’ web browsing activities. Through scripts loaded in the background, these companies could harvest browser data and integrate it into their respective apps. This data collection operated invisibly to the end user, bypassing built-in Android security and privacy protocols. Apps like Facebook, Instagram, and Yandex Maps have been specifically mentioned as channels for this practice.
Google Confirms Security Breaches
Google, the steward of the Android operating system, has acknowledged that both Meta and Yandex exploited Android features in ways that directly conflicted with established security and privacy guidelines. In response, Google has pledged to implement more robust safeguards and has initiated an internal investigation to further assess the impact and prevent future privacy violations.
Industry Reactions and Vendor Responses
Meta has stated that it is actively reviewing the findings of the report, while Yandex has denied any collection of sensitive user data. However, privacy and cybersecurity experts compare the techniques used to those employed by sophisticated malware, as they allow applications to gain persistent background access and circumvent user permission barriers.
Market Impact and Privacy Implications
This revelation brings attention to the significant privacy risks inherent in popular Android applications. It underlines the importance of transparency, secure app development, and regular audits of app behavior, especially for widely used products with global reach. As Android remains one of the most widely adopted mobile platforms, any breach of trust could influence user perception and market dynamics, prompting both regulatory scrutiny and shifts toward more privacy-centric alternatives.
Protecting Android Users: Next Steps
Both Google and the research community are urging app developers to adhere strictly to Android’s privacy guidelines. Users are also encouraged to review application permissions regularly and remain vigilant about the data accessed by background processes on their devices. This incident serves as a critical reminder of the ongoing battle to protect personal data in an increasingly interconnected digital landscape.
Source: news.sky

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