Google Calendar is developing a new permission model where users will have more control over what is done with their calendar information, that is, which apps get to share it. It diverges from the centralized permission to calendar access Android provides now, granting apps access to all calendar information synced on a device. With the new model, users will be given the ability to grant or deny Google Calendar events individually, giving them a finer level of control.
Nowadays, when an app is granted calendar access on Android, the app is able to view schedule data from any synced calendar, including Google Calendar, Samsung Calendar, or Microsoft Exchange. What this does is that if you have more than one calendar app installed on your phone, events from all of them are accessible to any other app that has been granted calendar access. However, with Google’s new framework, users will be able to regulate apps that may access Google Calendar events independently from other calendar applications.
The new permission framework will also have a setting in Google Calendar settings called “Share Google Calendar data with other apps.” This setting will not only allow users to choose which apps are allowed to access Google Calendar but also select specific calendars in that allow sharing within Google Calendar. This level of granularity will provide more control over the data to the users, and their sensitive data will be exposed to only trusted apps.
A test of the new system verifies that removing Google Calendar permission actually keeps third-party apps from accessing Google Calendar events, even though those third-party apps already had Android’s universal calendar permission. That adds to the evidence supporting the Google company moving further toward implementing a per-app permissions system, similar to the process under other Google software.
The addition of the new permission system is the latest attempt from Google to keep enhancing user data security and user privacy. Providing users with further control over their calendar information exposure, Google wishes to improve aspects of data privacy and making consumers feel at ease when using Google Calendar.
This development is particularly noteworthy given the sensitive nature of calendar data, which often includes personal and professional schedules, appointments, and events. With the growing popularity of digital calendars, managing access to such data has become increasingly relevant. Google’s move towards more granular permissions is part of broader trends in the tech industry, where companies are seeking to provide users with more control over their own information.
The new system has not yet been released and has been found through APK teardowns, which analyze the code of app updates to speculate on upcoming features. While it is possible that some features won’t make it into a public release, the direction towards giving users more control over their data is clear. As Google continues to build its security and privacy features, users can expect to see more tools to assist them in controlling their data in Google services.
