Android 12 already has an array of privacy features set to arrive over the coming months, but updated developer documents have revealed that Google is taking things a step further and finally allowing users to opt-out of personalized ad tracking completely. According to 9To5Google, Google updated the document early on Wednesday, noting the changes that would be coming to the opt-out system included in Android 12. Google has allowed users to opt-out of personalized advertising for a while now, but this change will effectively make it more similar to Apple’s system, which completely cuts off how users are tracked across multiple apps. With this update, though, Google will now change how the system works. The document reads, “As part of Google Play services update in late 2021, the advertising ID will be removed when a user opts out of personalization using advertising ID in Android Settings. Any attempts to access the identifier will receive a string of zeros instead of the identifier. To help developers and ad/analytics service providers with compliance efforts and respect user choice, they will be able to receive notifications for opt-out preferences.” Previously, developers could still see your ad ID, even if you had opted out of personalized tracking. This was billed as a way to check analytics or prevent fraud, but it meant your information was still readily available to those developers. Now, though, Google is completely cutting off access to that information. The new changes will go into effect for Android 12 apps sometime in late 2021, with Google claiming it will expand it to all applications available via Google Play services in 2022.
