Google Keeps Tabs on Usage of Rival Android Apps To Develop Competitors

An internal program at Google known as "Android Lockbox" can give the company's employees access to information about how Android users interact with popular, non-Google apps and services, according to a new report in The Information. The Verge: The program, which works via Google Mobile Services, means that employees can reportedly see "sensitive" data about other apps, including how often they're opened and for how long they're used. Sources claim this information has been used to keep tabs on rivals to Google's Gmail service or to monitor Facebook and Instagram usage. Google is also thought to have used it to plan the launch of its TikTok competitor, Shorts. The Information notes that Google's employees have to request permission to see this data in some cases, and that these requests are sometimes denied.

The report comes as Google's business is facing an intense amount of antitrust scrutiny in the US. Google CEO Sundar Pichai is due to testify in Congress; the company is facing an antitrust investigation by almost every US state, and the Justice Department is reportedly planning to file an antitrust case of its own. Although these investigations are believed to be focusing on the company's search and ad businesses, discoveries about possible unfair Android business practices are unlikely to be welcomed. The Information reports that Android Lockbox gets its most useful information when users agree to share information with Google as part of the Android setup process. Users are told that this data allows Google to offer a more personalized experience, but The Information says it also provides data for competitive research.

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