Complaint concerning the tracking of phones running the Android operating system

Question for written answer  E-001955/2021
to the Commission
Rule 138
Nicolás González Casares (S&D)

In its reply to my question E-006233/2020, the Commission said that it was aware of the complaints made by the Noyb group regarding Apple’s practices, but added that it ‘did not have knowledge of whether the activities that the Honourable Members describe also take place in the telephone terminals of other companies’.

We have now learned that the Noyb group has accused Google of illegally tracking users of phones running the Android operating system.

According to the complaint filed with the French regulator, unique advertising codes generated by handsets running the Android operating system allow Google and third parties to track users’ browsing history in order to better target advertising to them, and such codes are generated without first obtaining explicit permission from users.

In light of this complaint, I would like to know:

• 1.Is the Commission aware of these complaints and the practices complained of?
• 2.Has it contacted the above-mentioned national regulator to discuss the content of the complaints?
• 3.Does it intend to launch its own investigation into this company to ascertain whether such practices exist and to take appropriate action?