# Over 50 privacy groups ask Sundar Pichai to take action against ‘bloatware’ on Android devices | Tech News (HT Tech) > Privacy groups asked Pichai to allow Android users permanently uninstall the apps on their phones, including any related background services that continue to run even if the apps are disabled. # Over 50 privacy groups ask Sundar Pichai to take action against ‘bloatware’ on Android devices ## Privacy groups asked Pichai to allow Android users permanently uninstall the apps on their phones, including any related background services that continue to run even if the apps are disabled. Aug 20 2022, 18:50 IST ![Follow on Facebook](https://images.hindustantimes.com/tech/static/revamp/images/png/follow-us-facebook.png) ![Follow on Facebook](https://images.hindustantimes.com/tech/static/revamp/images/png/follow-us-facebook-hover.png) ![Share](https://images.hindustantimes.com/tech/static/revamp/images/png/Share.png) ![Share](https://images.hindustantimes.com/tech/static/revamp/images/png/Shareclicked.png) ![Share on WhatsApp](https://images.hindustantimes.com/tech/static/revamp/images/png/whatsapp.png) ![Share on WhatsApp](https://images.hindustantimes.com/tech/static/revamp/images/png/whatsapp-hover.png) ![Share on Twitter](https://images.hindustantimes.com/tech/static/revamp/images/png/twitter.png) ![Share on Twitter](https://images.hindustantimes.com/tech/static/revamp/images/png/twitter-hover.png) ![Share on Facebook](https://images.hindustantimes.com/tech/static/revamp/images/png/facebook.png) ![Share on Facebook](https://images.hindustantimes.com/tech/static/revamp/images/png/facebook-hover.png) ![Bookmark](https://images.hindustantimes.com/tech/static/revamp/images/png/Bookmark.png) ![Bookmarked](https://images.hindustantimes.com/tech/static/revamp/images/png/Bookmarked.png) ![50 privacy groups ask Pichai to safeguard Android users](https://images.hindustantimes.com/tech/rf/image_size_960x540/HT/p2/2020/01/12/Pictures/dallas-photo-google-college-pichai-speaks-centro_578d7006-3551-11ea-a5da-81b27965305c.jpg) 50 privacy groups ask Pichai to safeguard Android users (REUTERS) ![Author Photo](https://images.hindustantimes.com/tech/static/revamp/images/png/HTTech-new-circle-logo.png) ### By INDO ASIAN NEWS SERVICE More than 50 privacy groups including American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) and UK-based Privacy International have called on Google and Alphabet CEO Sundar Pichai to take action against pre-installed 'bloatware' on Android devices as they pose security risk to customers. "Android Partners - who use the Android trademark and branding - are manufacturing devices that contain pre-installed apps that cannot be deleted (often known as 'bloatware'), which can leave users vulnerable to their data being collected, shared and exposed without their knowledge or consent," Privacy International said in a statement. These phones carry the "Google Play Protect" branding, but research shows that 91 per cent of pre-installed apps do not appear in Google Play Store. These pre-installed apps, said the Open Letter, can have privileged custom permissions that let them operate outside the Android security model. Also read click here. "This means permissions can be defined by the app - including access to the microphone, camera and location - without triggering the standard Android security prompts. "Users are, therefore, completely in the dark about these serious intrusions," the privacy groups lamented. They asked Pichai to allow Android users permanently uninstall the apps on their phones, including any related background services that continue to run even if the apps are disabled. Pre-installed apps should adhere to the same scrutiny as Play Store apps, especially in relation to custom permissions, they added. Pre-installed apps should have some update mechanism, preferably through Google Play and without a user account. "Google should refuse to certify a device on privacy grounds, where manufacturers or vendors have attempted to exploit users in this way," the privacy groups added. Google was yet to reply to the Open Letter. Catch all the Latest Tech News, Mobile News, Laptop News, Gaming news, Wearables News , How To News, also keep up with us on Whatsapp channel,Twitter, Facebook, Google News, and Instagram. 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