Google has released the first developer preview of Android 16, introducing several new privacy and security features designed to enhance user protection and control over personal data. This release builds upon the security foundations established in Android 15’s passkey implementation and represents a significant step forward in Google’s mobile security strategy.
The latest version includes significant updates to the Privacy Sandbox, implementing improved data encryption and sensitive information handling capabilities. This development follows Google’s ongoing efforts to strengthen biometric authentication security on Android, with enhanced safeguards for user data protection and privacy-preserving advertising technologies.
A notable addition is the embedded photo picker feature, which enables users to share media content without granting apps complete access to device storage. The new implementation includes APIs that simplify developer integration, addressing previous adoption challenges and streamlining the media sharing process. This feature extends the granular permissions model first introduced in Android 11, providing users with greater control over their personal media.
The Health Connect app receives substantial improvements in Android 16 DP1, introducing support for reading and writing medical records in FHIR (Fast Healthcare Interoperability Resources) format. This functionality enables seamless sharing of health data between applications and devices, with explicit user consent required for data access. The enhanced security measures build upon Google’s existing health data protection framework, ensuring sensitive medical information remains protected through advanced encryption protocols.
Android 16 introduces a new Security and Permissions History feature that allows users to review app permissions and security activities over a seven-day period. The Privacy Dashboard has been expanded to display a week’s worth of data, accessible through the three-dot menu in the top right corner of the interface. This enhancement provides users with greater transparency into how their data is being accessed and used by applications.
The platform also implements a Notification Cooldown feature, designed to manage notification frequency by reducing alerts and lowering volume when multiple notifications arrive in rapid succession. Users can access this feature through the Settings > Notifications menu. This development addresses long-standing concerns about notification overload while maintaining the essential functionality that Android users rely on for important communications.
Sources: NextPit, Dataconomy, Beebom, Droid-Life, Android Developers
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