Google collects significantly more data than Apple

Published on: August 24, 2018 / Updated on: August 31, 2018 – Author: Konrad Wolfenstein

recent study, Google is significantly more data-hungry than Apple. The study indicates that the company requests data from Android smartphones as often as 40 times per hour, even when the device is idle, and as many as 90 times per hour during normal use, as the Statista graphic illustrates.

Even iPhones that don't run on the Android operating system aren't immune to data requests – although the frequency is significantly lower. In contrast, Apple is more restrained: In standby mode, there are four requests per hour, while during normal use, there are 18.

You can find more infographics at Statista

According to the study, the specific data collected also differs. For iPhones, the focus is primarily on advertising, while for Android phones, location is tracked, activity in the App Store is monitored, and other data is categorized under "Device Uploads." Advertising is primarily collected when the device is active. Apple is particularly interested in "Device Uploads" for iPhones.

The study was conducted by Vanderbilt University on behalf of the US industry association Digital Context Next. Author Douglas Schmidt, a professor of computer science, simulated a typical day of use with various activities, such as distance traveled, music listening, and web browsing. He found that Google actively and passively collects data. Schmidt criticizes the extent of the data collection, as well as the techniques, which are difficult for users to understand and allow Google to deanonymize users.

Google recently faced criticism for collecting location data from users who had disabled the feature. The company rejected the criticism, stating that the feature could be deactivated again. However, this is difficult for less tech-savvy users to understand.