Google’s upcoming Android 15 update is set to introduce a significant privacy-centric feature dubbed “Private Space,” which will enhance user privacy by suggesting the creation of a separate Google account for hidden apps.
Unveiled through APK Insight decompilations, “Private Space” aims to allow users to segregate sensitive applications and their notifications, making them visible only when specifically accessed. This feature could be invaluable for users who need to temporarily hand over their unlocked phones to others without compromising their privacy.
According to our latest findings from the Android 15 Developer Preview and the ongoing beta releases of Android 14 QPR3, Google plans to prompt users to set up a secondary Google account for their Private Space. This account would specifically cater to the apps within the Private Space, ensuring that their data, such as synced photos, files, emails, contacts, calendar events, app download history, browsing bookmarks, and passwords, remain isolated from the primary account.
The idea extends beyond just email privacy. With a dedicated account, users could maintain separate instances of Google Contacts, Calendar, and Photos, which would only appear when Private Space is accessed. This separation could also extend to the Google Play Store, where app histories and recommendations would be exclusive to the Private Space account, avoiding any unintentional data leaks.
Furthermore, the separate account strategy could safeguard users’ browsing histories. While Incognito mode offers a degree of privacy, it sacrifices the convenience of integrated Chrome features like bookmarks and saved passwords. A separate Google Account would allow users to enjoy these features discreetly.
However, this strategy raises additional privacy concerns, such as the potential for Google to track users’ alternative browsing and app usage more systematically. It remains to be seen how Google will address these concerns, especially regarding unique privacy protections for these secondary accounts.
Google’s initiative seems to be a thoughtful approach to enhance privacy for Android users, offering a practical solution for those willing to manage a second account. This feature, expected to launch with Android 15 this fall, prompts users to consider how much trust they are willing to invest in Google’s handling of their private data.