Security News > 2021 > July > Upcoming Android privacy changes include ability to blank advertising ID, and 'safety section' in Play store

Google has shared details of upcoming changes to Android including the ability to blank a device's advertising ID, and a new safety section for apps in the Play store.

The advertising ID is an identifier unique to an Android device which is supplied by Google Play Services.

Privacy advocate Max Schrems filed a legal complaint against Google last year, arguing that the advertising ID is personal data and that the option to reset it, which automatically creates a replacement ID, was "Like cancelling a contract only under the condition that you sign a new one."

Why supply the advertising ID at all if the user wishes to limit ad tracking? Google has accepted this idea, and director of product management Krish Vitaldevara posted that "When users opt out of interest-based advertising or ads personalization, their advertising ID will be removed and replaced with a string of zeros."

This is intended for "Analytics or fraud prevention." Vitaldevara said that "You cannot use app set ID for ads personalization or ads measurement." Developers can only use the advertising ID for this, and further, apps "Primarily directed to children" are not allowed to collect the advertising ID. The safety section is an upcoming addition to the Play store and "Ultimately, all Google Play store apps will be required to share information in the safety section," said Suzanne Frey, VP Android security and privacy.

While these changes will no doubt be welcomed by those who care about their privacy, note that the advertising ID will be present by default, unlike Apple's changes in iOS 14.5 which require developers to ask users to opt into tracking across apps and websites.

News URL

https://go.theregister.com/feed/www.theregister.com/2021/07/29/android_privacy_changes/