Google’s Automatic Phone Number Verification on Android Raises Privacy Questions

Google’s automatic phone number verification on Android has raised questions about user privacy, with the system potentially linking a SIM card’s phone number to Google accounts on the device.

The concern centres on whether users realise their number may be associated with their accounts through an automatic process, rather than through a step they deliberately take. The available information does not establish how widely users are affected.

To review the feature, open your Android device’s Settings, go to the Google section and look for “Phone number verification”. The location and wording may vary by device and software version. If automatic verification is enabled, use the available control to turn it off.

Disabling automatic verification should not be treated as confirmation that a number already linked to an account has been removed. Users who want to review existing links should also check the phone numbers listed in their Google Account’s personal information and security settings, taking care not to remove a recovery number they still need.