NEW YORK (TheStreet) -- Google (GOOG) - Get Report reportedly defended the way it gathers location data from Android cellphones.

The company was responding to a report Thursday by

The Wall Street Journal

that said Android smartphones regularly send users' locations back to Google.

The initial report cited data and documents analyzed by the newspaper and said that

Apple

(AAPL) - Get Report

iPhones similarly send user locations back to Apple.

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In a follow-up report by the

Wall Street Journal

, Google said it collected location data only after users opt in.

The follow-up report said Apple remained mum on the issue.

The

Journal

noted that when users activate Android phones, a screen appears saying that Google will collect anonymous location data even when no apps are running the phone. However, the default setup has the box checked that accepts that data-gathering, the newspaper added.

The initial

Journal

report was published as Apple

was already drawing fire from privacy advocates

for a related issue: Its iPhones and iPads gather user location data and store them on the phone.

Shares of Apple finished Thursday up $8.29 at $350.70, while Google's stock ended the session down 63 cents at $525.10. U.S. stock markets were closed Friday in observance of Good Friday.

This article was written by a staff member of TheStreet.