Our smartphones are a great source for collecting data from hundreds of people and businesses on the internet, eventually selling it for a profit. Both Android and iPhones are known to decrease our privacy in daily life, but it seems that Google and Apple are now deciding not to. These two mobile ecosystem creators now reportedly want the X-Mode location tracking code to disappear from apps in their app stores within two weeks. Also read: Google allows users to disable the option to show gambling and alcohol ads on YouTube
According to a WSJ report, Apple and Google are now asking app developers to remove the X-Mode location tracking system from their apps. Google is giving developers a week, with the option to extend the takedown period for up to 30 days. Apple, on the other hand, is giving up to two weeks for developers to remove code from their apps. Failure to do so will either of these regulators remove the apps from their respective stores. Also Read: Can’t Send or Receive Messages on Your Android Phone? You’re not alone
Apple and Google oppose location tracking technology
None of these companies have listed the reasons behind this directive, but for consumers, it is certainly a small step towards ensuring greater privacy. The X-Mode code is essentially an SDK that is added to applications to collect location data. This data is then shared with X-Mode for other business purposes, while developers are paid a certain amount for the data in return. Also Read: Pixel Font Comes to Your Android Keyboard – How to Get It Now on Gboard
X-Mode itself says its technology is used by nearly 400 applications. The company says its code collects mobile app data similar to most ad SDKs. Also, these SDKs still require user permissions to collect location data on both iOS and Android. Therefore, if the user decides not to give an application the permission to obtain location data, the technology is useless.
So while setting up a new phone or downloading a new app, if you think you are requesting permissions for activities that are not relevant to the main function of the app, you should avoid giving them if privacy is your concern. Apple, in its latest version of iOS 14, has provided more granular control over how an app can get your location. For example, for an application that needs your location, you can deny access or choose between millimeter precision and a fair estimate of your actual location.
In this case, it remains to be seen which apps should bypass the X-Mode code to remain available in the app stores.