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After Facebook scrutiny, is Google next?

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Re: After Facebook scrutiny, is Google next?

#211

Post by stjohnswarts »

throw2016 wrote: post #148
product50 wrote: post #81

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Yeah - you want to make use of Google services (search, maps, youtube, Photos etc.) for free and don't want to give anything in return. #entitlement Also, most likely you turning off tracking will impact your Google experience. Google is different than Facebook in that they offer real value services without which you can't survive a day on the web. Just count how many times you rely on a Google service in a day. The…

Untrue, people are paying serious money for their Android phones. OEMs too pay Google. So customers are not 'demanding' anything for free. But that doesn't stop Google's insatiable need for personal data and stalking people. Android is designed to leak like a sieve. And this is yet another example for those who continue to make the false argument that if customers paid surveillance would go away. On the contrary comp…

Android does not leak like a sieve. All you have to do is not use Google services. There are plenty of others if you're willing to pay a little bit. Or pay for GSuite and they turn the tracking off. Nothing in this world is free except a mother's love.

Re: After Facebook scrutiny, is Google next?

#212

Post by joshuamorton »

stjohnswarts wrote: post #209
downandout wrote: post #121

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Take a keyword like "mesothelioma". Are you going to personally reimburse Google for the $100 that an advertiser would pay them for your click that they will lose by not showing you an ad with this keyword?

try 1 cent.

While most Google searches aren't that valuable, there are specific searches (mesothelioma might be one, but I've heard local bail bonds and injury lawers) that have cpc in the range of $50-100. There's articles about this floating around.

Re: After Facebook scrutiny, is Google next?

#213

Post by scrollaway »

pjc50 wrote: post #23
DanBC wrote: post #9

> Child advocates have also raised alarms about the ease with which smartphone-equipped children are exposed to inappropriate videos and deceptive advertising. COPPA has unfortunate consequences. My 7 year old child watches youtube. He can't have an account, so he uses my account. Youtube thinks an > 18 year old is watching the videos, and so places ads for gambling and alcohol on the videos he watches. There's no me…

It sounds like an adblocker would be responsible parenting best practice here.

Not letting a child on the web without an adblocker is, in general, responsible parenting. The ad industry is at its scummiest when it comes to ads targeted at kids (and it's been that way for decades, it's just especially visible on the web).

Re: After Facebook scrutiny, is Google next?

#214

Post by Dibes »

amelius wrote: post #61
tmoravec wrote: post #52

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'd give them the benefit of the doubt here. It's probably just because of the voice control, which can be presumably used for web search. And they personalize the web search with your history. It looks more like poor engineering than a dark pattern.

> It looks more like poor engineering than a dark pattern. Poor engineering and sensitive data are a bad combination.

I am going to speculate that it isn't poor engineering per-say but more likely that they are solving for 95-99% use case and not spending the man-hours to make their systems work for the rest.

Re: After Facebook scrutiny, is Google next?

#215

Post by Terr_ »

darren_ wrote: post #203
simfoo wrote: post #86

Earlier quoted context omitted.

They also do this with Google Maps on Android. Disabled Location History sharing with Google? Sorry, we cannot remember the last search term you entered in Google Maps ON THE SAME DEVICE. This is so infuriating

That would be terrible if it was true, which it isn't. Source: literally just tried it.

Perhaps not that specific option which controls some smaller facet of sharing and recommendations, however but it's definitely the case when you turn off syncing "Web & App Activity" with the Google panopticon.

Where the history would usually be, there's just this nagging message:

> To see your home and work, past searches, and other suggestions tailed for you, turn on Web & App Activity.

...Which, as mentioned already, misleadingly implies that local-history features are difficult or nonstandard.

Re: After Facebook scrutiny, is Google next?

#216

Post by [deleted] »

mcny wrote: post #192
hnzix wrote: post #181

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Apple are pushing privacy as a key differentiator and also to justify their premium price tag. Selling out on privacy would torpedo that USP. Trust is gained in drops and lost in buckets. Yes in a world of infinite possibilities anything can happen, but realistically Apple is incentivized to maintain their privacy position.

(the following is pure speculation as usual) This is what the current leadership believes. Tim Cook is a clearly brilliant manager. I have no hesitation in endorsing his record on privacy (and genuineness and truthfulness). However, he is mortal. The next CEO might see things differently. The unique selling point you mentioned will be on the table. There will be analysts who will crunch the numbers on what portion of…

[deleted]

Re: After Facebook scrutiny, is Google next?

#217

Post by vvanders »

jeswin wrote: post #165
rapnie wrote: post #122

Earlier quoted context omitted.

There are all kinds of such dark patterns. If you switch from Chrome to Firefox on Android you find all kinds of features missing, like in image search. It's some time ago I checked, but I want to do a comparison and report to some naming & shaming site. Anyone knows a good one?

> If you switch from Chrome to Firefox on Android you find all kinds of features missing, like in image search. I've been on Firefox nightly Android for eight months now. While generally the browsing is better than chrome thanks to ad blocking, the Google services are pared down versions for no reason. Search, finance, news, so many. This is a clear case of abusing market dominance - and not due to Firefox missing an…

I found that FF on Android just isn't up to par yet. Even on a OnePlus 3T, HN stutters when scrolling.

It's a shame because I'd love to ditch chrome.

Re: After Facebook scrutiny, is Google next?

#218

Post by eksemplar »

Bombthecat wrote: post #146
freehunter wrote: post #46

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This has been my stance for about five years now. I don’t want to give all this info to companies I don’t trust. Apple devices might cost more, but Apple only makes money from you when you give them money. Google and Facebook make money when you give them money and then make money when you give them information too. There’s a perverse incentive, they want you to use it more and give them more information because they…

I'm pretty sure that one day Apple will also use / sell your data. Why? Because it makes them even more money...

Isnt Apple already using our data to make money? Their approach is just different, they collect anonymous data and they ask you if you want to participate.

My Apple health data is being used for science for instance, but I decided to opt-in and the data isn’t actually linked to me.

Re: After Facebook scrutiny, is Google next?

#219

Post by mncharity »

oflannabhra wrote: post #184
mncharity wrote: post #175

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> confluence of divisive political headwinds and an outrage-driven news > I doubt Google will find itself in a hot seat You're suggesting Hollywood will abandon a decade-plus long effort to beat down the influence of big tech, and increase regulation of the Internet, now, when it's going so well?[1] Or that some integrity of governance, quality of public policy, or competence of journalism, will hold them in check? >…

Well, no, that’s not what I’m suggesting at all. It sounds like you set up a straw man to be able to assert your own narrative for “Why Google is next.” It’s all well and fine to offer up an alternative explanation or additional information, but you don’t have to do it by putting words into people’s mouths. As for the content of your message, I fail to see how Facebook’s current scrutiny is connected to Hollywood in…

> you don’t have to do it by putting words into people’s mouths

A fair criticism. I'd intended "You're suggesting [...] ?" as a "are you suggesting ?" form of "what about X?" question, rather than as a "you said X" claim. I'd not noticed the second reading. :/ But a less personal phrasing would have avoided the potential for misunderstanding - and consequences. Sorry about that.

> how Facebook’s current scrutiny is connected to Hollywood

Regards "current", tactical politics, perhaps someone else can comment. But the strategic context, part of those "political headwinds", is a long-term lobbying and press campaign to "correct" the "excessive approval" of Facebook et al, and to establish "rules of the road" for the "Wild West" Internet. One can of course agree with part of that, and disagree with the other. But... given a political bandwagon, it seems worth noting the principal conductors, and their intended playlists.

Re: After Facebook scrutiny, is Google next?

#220

Post by taneq »

Terr_ wrote: post #215
darren_ wrote: post #203

Earlier quoted context omitted.

That would be terrible if it was true, which it isn't. Source: literally just tried it.

Perhaps not that specific option which controls some smaller facet of sharing and recommendations, however but it's definitely the case when you turn off syncing "Web & App Activity" with the Google panopticon. Where the history would usually be, there's just this nagging message: > To see your home and work, past searches, and other suggestions tailed for you, turn on Web & App Activity. ...Which, as mentioned alrea…

I'd say it's more that it quite correctly implies that if you resist sharing your personal life with Google, they'll punish you.
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