UC Browser app has been removed from the Google Play Store due to alleged privacy concerns. The Alibaba-owned UC News has been accused of sending user data fetched from the UC Browser app to remote servers based in China. Even though the UC Browser app has been removed from the Play Store, the app is still available on Apple App Store.
An application was filed by Central Government regarding this matter. It was widely reported that the UC Browser still can access crucial user data even after uninstallation from the smartphone. The Government has reportedly asked CDAC to investigate and file a report as to whether there is any violation of privacy with the app.
The UC Browser is capable of delivering a large amount of content quickly without compromising data consumption due to the integration of advanced data compression mechanism. The browser was highly preferred among budget-friendly Android smartphone users. As a user, you can save a considerable amount of data because the browser is designed in such a way to load data faster.
According to a report released by the UC Web, the UC Browser app has crossed 500 million downloads and stands at number 6 position in the most downloaded application in India. Moreover, a popular tech portal had revealed that the UC Web managed to get 100 million monthly active users from within India.
The removal of a trending UC Browser app from the Google Play Store is not a step in right direction. The company will likely face huge loss due to the removal and will benefit competitors to a large extent. It remains to be seen as to whether the app has been removed deliberately to verify the backend coding by the company or by Google itself.
In 2015, Citizen Lab based in Canada had disclosed that the UC Browser is capable of providing vital information including mobile number, location, and device-related information to various third-party companies. The company added that the browser is prone to privacy risk because of its ability to not only collect customer data but also identify users and devices.
