A few days ago, Cybernews published a report claiming that the Pixel 9 Pro XL was sharing personal information with Google every 15 minutes, even before you set up the device. This information included your location, email address and phone number, app list, and other telemetry data. However, the developers of GrapheneOS, the privacy-focused version of Android, say that this is not specific to the Pixel 9 Pro XL, but is standard Android behavior. Furthermore, they emphasize that iOS collects much the same information.

Google vehemently denies the personal data leak accusations

Cybernews reached out to Google before publishing the report and received the following response from Mountain View:

“User security and privacy are top priorities for the Pixel. You can manage data sharing, app permissions, and more during device setup and in your settings. This report misses important context, misinterprets technical details, and doesn’t fully explain that data transfers are required for legitimate services like software updates, optional features, and personalized experiences across all mobile devices, regardless of manufacturer, model, or operating system,” a Google spokesperson said.

Additionally, Google is making changes to make Android more private. Late last year, it announced that it would move Timeline—a detailed track of your location history—to your device. Previously, this information was stored in the cloud. If you haven’t already, you’ll receive an email soon asking you to change your settings—either to move location history to your device or to enable the auto-delete option (which automatically deletes data after 3 or 18 months, depending on your preference).

You can find more information about what data Google collects and why on this page about Google Play Services . So what do you think about this? Feel free to share your thoughts with us in the comments section below. We really appreciate your feedback. Feel free to share! We look forward to hearing from you.