25 Jan Google Can Use Bluetooth to Track Phone Even When Turned Off
It was found through a recent investigation by a Quartz reporter that Google is still able to use an Android phone’s Bluetooth to collect location-related data even if the user has turned it off.
Quartz reported that Google is able to collect the unique identifier codes of other Bluetooth broadcasting devices the phone encounters. These devices, known as beacons, are present in most public places and helps phones determine their location. It is said that Google uses this information for the targeting of its ads. However, the search company continues to tap into these signals even if the user thinks that they’ve already disabled their Bluetooth.
On some Android phones, the tracking mechanism can only be turned off by disabling both Bluetooth, Bluetooth Scanning, and Location History. However, it is buried deep within Android settings in most phones and using Google Assistant will not disable it according to Quartz.
Source: Quartz
