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Google will use Chrome browsing data for ad tailoring

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Re: Google will use Chrome browsing data for ad tailoring

#51

While I am able to switch to another browser (I already did a long time ago), I don't believe I can avoid visiting sites "that show ads from Google". How much can Google collect from those sites?

I highly recommend:

https://github.com/gorhill/uBlock

https://github.com/gorhill/umatrix

Re: Google will use Chrome browsing data for ad tailoring

#52

The way the screenshot is cropped is misleading. The actual page makes it clear this feature is opt-in. If you're logged into a Google account and haven't already made a choice on the page you can see it at http://www.google.com/settings/ads .

When I look at this ad settings page, it has a list of topics Google thinks I'm interested in. I've heard of half of them and am interested in none. I would be worried about Google collecting my data only if they were competent enough to misuse it.

Re: Google will use Chrome browsing data for ad tailoring

#53
There's Chromium Inox[0] which is just a patchset on top of the Chromium build to remove much of the mothership home-calling. Inox seems to be much closer to Chromium than many of the other Chrome-privacy spinoffs. Contrary to popular belief, Chromium still has a lot of Google in it.

I always feel like artificially patching a project that doesn't care about your concerns natively to be plugging holes in a sponge boat, but I realize sometimes you need to use that boat because reasons.

I installed it from the AUR and it seems to work pretty well for the testing I do in it anyway. I don't daily driver it or Chrome.

[0] https://github.com/gcarq/inox-patchset

Re: Google will use Chrome browsing data for ad tailoring

#56
post #52

The way the screenshot is cropped is misleading. The actual page makes it clear this feature is opt-in. If you're logged into a Google account and haven't already made a choice on the page you can see it at http://www.google.com/settings/ads .

When I look at this ad settings page, it has a list of topics Google thinks I'm interested in. I've heard of half of them and am interested in none. I would be worried about Google collecting my data only if they were competent enough to misuse it.

Never mind if they are competent enough to misuse it today; giving Google data assumes they won't *become8 competent enough to misuse it in the future.

Collection isn't what you should be worried about. The problem is that the collected data is persistent and combined with other data in the future. Just timestamps from the browser can paint a surprisingly fine-grain picture of your pattern-of-life. I'm sure far more interesting interpretations can be found with the many machine learning techniques and other analysis methods that are currently being invented.

Re: Google will use Chrome browsing data for ad tailoring

#57
post #54

Dear 2016, You haven't figured it out yet, but we consider advertising unethical. Yours, 2066

I can't imagine this will be true. What's wrong with advertising? It's how I know about things!

The depths to which advertisers go to with tracking feels rather unethical at times, however.

Re: Google will use Chrome browsing data for ad tailoring

#58
post #35

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I don't recall ever enabling this but this is enabled already for me. (note that not recalling doesn't mean I never enabled it, however it would have had to have been fairly inconspicuously for me to "opt-in")

what about 'don't be evil'; have they silently changed the corporate motto, or is it now an 'opt-in' clause ? ( opt-in for the customers 'request that no evil be done to you', the customers are otherwise known as 'the product' https://www.schneier.com/blog/archives/2013/11/surveillance_... )

Google replaced "Don't be evil" with "Do the right thing": https://www.engadget.com/2015/10/02/alphabet-do-the-right-th...
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