Google is accused of accessing sensitive data on Android apps, keeping tabs to create competitors that will rival those Android applications. According to The Verge's latest reports, Google's internal program known as "Android Lockbox" allows the company's employees to access Android users' information, including how they interact with popular, non-Google services and apps.
Now California is Investigating Google’s Antitrust Violations Too - https://t.co/KzcFpkVCcy pic.twitter.com/4p05e9VMN6 — Paul Thurrott (@thurrott) July 13, 2020
Employees can see sensitive user data about other apps, including how users open the apps and the time they spent using them, using the program that works via Google Mobile Services. The data which Google acquires is used to keep tabs on its Gmail's rivals, and to monitor Instagram and Facebook usage.
The company was also accused of using the information to launch Google Shorts, the competitor of TikTok. However, the report clarified that request permission is filed first by Google's employees before they access the sensitive data, but, the requests are usually not approved.
The accusation comes as an intense amount of antitrust scrutiny is face by Google's business in the United States. The company's CEO, Sundar Pichai, will testify in U.S. congress. The report explained that Google is currently facing an antitrust investigation by almost every U.S. state and the Antitrust Justice is also planning to file an antitrust charge.
United States file an antitrust case against Google
The New York Times previously reported that Google will face antitrust charges filed by U.S. State attorneys--this is one of the biggest antitrust actions by the U.S. since the late 1990s.
Apple and Google face scrutiny as France’s antitrust watchdog looks at how they muscled in on digital payments.
Will we see more antitrust investigations as big tech gets into #fintech ? @JimMarous @psb_dc @davidbrear @leimer pic.twitter.com/yt6LA3hp2G — Bryan Clagett (@Clagett) May 20, 2020
The Justice Department is currently investigating the big tech company as progress is made on its case. Google's dominance in the online advertising industry will be the main focus of the regulators.
The company was also accused of abusing its dominance in online search to harm its competitors. Google's case will set a benchmark for how the lawmakers and regulators will investigate other tech giants such as Amazon and Facebook.
It was explained that Google, Amazon, Apple, Facebook, and other tech companies had become gateways to internet search, online communications, advertising, e-commerce, and digital entertainment, for the past two years with little regulation form the U.S. authorities.
