Google’s latest flagship smartphone raises concerns about user privacy and security. It frequently transmits private user data to the tech giant before any app is installed. Moreover, the Cybernews research team has discovered that it potentially has remote management capabilities without user awareness or approval.
Cybernews researchers analyzed the new Pixel 9 Pro XL smartphone’s web traffic, focusing on what a new smartphone sends to Google.
“Every 15 minutes, Google Pixel 9 Pro XL sends a data packet to Google. The device shares location, email address, phone number, network status, and other telemetry. Even more concerning, the phone periodically attempts to download and run new code, potentially opening up security risks,” said Aras Nazarovas, a security researcher at Cybernews…
… “The amount of data transmitted and the potential for remote management casts doubt on who truly owns the device. Users may have paid for it, but the deep integration of surveillance systems in the ecosystem may leave users vulnerable to privacy violations,” Nazarovas said…
Well to this point (I don’t 100% believe this flavor of state surveillance theory but) you cannot buy phones made my foreign manufacturers and have them work in the US. For example, Oppo, Huawei, Xiaomi, all do not work on USA cell networks, and you can’t buy them unless you go through an import process. Just to name a few of the many. But granted, those are all Chinese manufacturers.
Wait what? Is that actually true? What if you are a foreigner visiting the US and bring your e.g. Oppo phone with you? You can’t use it? Even with a foreign SIM?