If an app wants access to your location data, they need to ask your permission first. In spite of the fact that this is the case, most apps don’t tend to explain why they need location data in the first place even if it doesn’t seem immediately obvious. The launch of the data safety section on Android was meant to fix this issue, but its reliance on developer provided information made it less useful than might have been the case otherwise.
With all of that having been said and now out of the way, it is important to note that Android 14 is looking to change all of that. The safety section will now include the purpose for any and all data that a developer asks users to provide, as reported by XDA. Safety info can also change quite frequently, but with the release of Android 14 it seems like users will finally get updates whenever a change is made so that they can toggle permissions on or off accordingly.
One impact that this can have is that developers will now have to fill out forms that will outline the data that they are requesting access to as well as the reasons behind why they require them with all things having been considered and taken into account. Such updates are necessary because of the fact that this is the sort of thing that could potentially end up allowing users to gain a better understanding of when and how their data gets used.
Google is clearly trying to be more transparent about data collection. That is a heartening step from a company that is rather notorious for taking a lax attitude towards such things. However, some are criticizing this update by claiming that it will make things more difficult for app developers.
Apple has already made third party tracking next to impossible. Now that Google is making similar moves, the data collection industry might end up in peril. It will be interesting to see what sorts of tactics get deployed so that app developers can continue to mine as much data as possible.
Read next: Report Reveals Alarming Data Breach Trends Among Data Brokers in the US: Over 200 Million Records Compromised
With all of that having been said and now out of the way, it is important to note that Android 14 is looking to change all of that. The safety section will now include the purpose for any and all data that a developer asks users to provide, as reported by XDA. Safety info can also change quite frequently, but with the release of Android 14 it seems like users will finally get updates whenever a change is made so that they can toggle permissions on or off accordingly.
One impact that this can have is that developers will now have to fill out forms that will outline the data that they are requesting access to as well as the reasons behind why they require them with all things having been considered and taken into account. Such updates are necessary because of the fact that this is the sort of thing that could potentially end up allowing users to gain a better understanding of when and how their data gets used.
Google is clearly trying to be more transparent about data collection. That is a heartening step from a company that is rather notorious for taking a lax attitude towards such things. However, some are criticizing this update by claiming that it will make things more difficult for app developers.
Apple has already made third party tracking next to impossible. Now that Google is making similar moves, the data collection industry might end up in peril. It will be interesting to see what sorts of tactics get deployed so that app developers can continue to mine as much data as possible.
Read next: Report Reveals Alarming Data Breach Trends Among Data Brokers in the US: Over 200 Million Records Compromised
