Report: to give you better Android privacy controls

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Published 8 May 2015

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Disclosure

You may soon have more say over exactly what data that app you just downloaded can access.

A Bloomberg report says a future update to Android will give you more detailed information about which of your personal details apps can use, such as location, photos, or contacts. 

You’re able to see a lot of this information now when installing an app, but it serves as more of a notification than a choice. And the descriptions can be rather lengthy, which means you’re likely just to hit accept move on. The report says this update will bring Android more in line with iOS, where apps have to ask permission at the moment they first attempt to access your contacts, photos, location, or camera.

An announcement about the new controls is expected at I/O, where we’re likely to hear about Android M its other new features. 

The story behind the story: User privacy is a hot buzz term, doesn’t want to be on the wrong side of the dialogue. Apple privacy policies are a direct knock at : “ don’t build a profile based on your email content or web browsing habits to sell to advertisers.”

Giving you more say in data privacy is one step towards fending off such attacks.