How to Stop Google Location Tracking And Activity Recognition Sharing with Third-Party

Recently, Quartz investigation reveals that Google collects Android users' locations even you turn off this location services, or haven't used any apps, or haven't inserted a carrier SIM card. Google, the unit of Alphabet behind Android, has access to data about users' locations that go beyond a reasonable consumer expectation of privacy.

Android devices have been sending location information about nearby cell towers to Google since the begining of 2017. Cell tower addresses were collected by the same system that Google uses to manage push notifications and messages, a spokesperson for the company told Quartz.

"In January of this year, we began looking into using Cell ID codes as an additional signal to further improve the speed and performance of message delivery" a Google spokesperson told Quartz when contacted. "However, we never incorporated Cell ID into our network sync system, so that data was immediately discarded, and we updated it to no longer request Cell ID".

This may be an issue for those who don't want to be tracked or even keep their location was secret. What's worse, Google can still collect location data even if a SIM isn't installed in the phone. That means you have no way to opt out of the collection.And now the only way to avoid this issue is to remove Google Services from your device.

Since you can't prevent Google from collecting your locations if you use the services. But, we can stop Android from sharing your "activity recognition" with third-party apps.

How to Stop/Prevent Android From Sharing Activity Recognition with Third-Party Apps

Android phones become more and more popular, better and better. While, privacy is alwasys one of the concerns that user complain most. A new permission called "activity recognition" may tracking your activity and sharing it with third-party apps. Fortunately, you have methods to stop it.

What is Activity Recognition?

"Activity Recognition" allows Google to track your physical activity (biking, running, standing still) using your phone's built-in. Activity recognition is also categorized in the list of "other"permission, in that it won't show up when an app updates on your phone.

How to Solve This?

Unfortunately, just like the locations tracking, there is no easy way to deal with the activity recognition. We now only hope Google will offer a fix, but you may just have to accept that owning a smartphone means giving up a bit of your privacy.