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The Many Ways Google Harvests Data

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Re: The Many Ways Google Harvests Data

#91
post #77

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The whole tracking thing should be outlawed in my opinion. It's like saying that because windows are transparent, it is ok to stare into people's living rooms. It's not - irrespective of transparency or lack of curtains. In a world where that is clearly not ok, then why is it that this kind of thing (tracking) is deemed ok? What we need is something that does to our online privacy, what curtains did for peoples real…

It's like saying that because windows are transparent, it is ok to stare into people's living rooms. It's not - irrespective of transparency or lack of curtains. Nope. When you enter someone else’s place of business, you have no expectation of privacy. These websites belong to private entities. So it’s more like saying that because you voluntarily walked into my store, it’s ok for me to observe your behavior while yo…

That's ridiculous. If a normal shopper walked into a store and had surveillance on him/her (I don't mean the normal security cameras here - I'm talking about in depth surveillance, the in-person equivalent of a website tracker), I am sure them same stores would go out of business fast.

The point here is that they do it just because the snooping is invisible. And that irks me.

Re: The Many Ways Google Harvests Data

#92
post #91

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It's like saying that because windows are transparent, it is ok to stare into people's living rooms. It's not - irrespective of transparency or lack of curtains. Nope. When you enter someone else’s place of business, you have no expectation of privacy. These websites belong to private entities. So it’s more like saying that because you voluntarily walked into my store, it’s ok for me to observe your behavior while yo…

That's ridiculous. If a normal shopper walked into a store and had surveillance on him/her (I don't mean the normal security cameras here - I'm talking about in depth surveillance, the in-person equivalent of a website tracker), I am sure them same stores would go out of business fast. The point here is that they do it just because the snooping is invisible. And that irks me.

You do know that most big stores use automated video analysis nowadays to optimize inventory placement, analyze in-store traffic flow, detect shoplifting, detect slip and falls, etc right? Some have begun using license plate readers at parking lot entrances. Oh and...they are completely within their rights to do it.....being a private business and all.

The point is, don't come on my property - physical or virtual - unless you don't have a problem with your behavior being observed while you're there.

Re: The Many Ways Google Harvests Data

#93
"Recent controversy over Facebook Inc.'s hunger for personal data has surfaced the notion that the online advertising industry could be hazardous to our privacy and well-being."

The NYT can publish stories centering on this notion despite being ??% reliant on said online advertising in order to stay in business.

Would Google (or Facebook) publish similar warnings against the annoyances and harms of online advertising despite being 98% reliant on said online advertising in order to stay in business?

How strong an argument is "Newspapers use trackers in their online editions therefore any news they publish about tracking has no educational value." (or is somehow compromised in some way)

Did newspapers have a choice in whether they chose to participate in the www as we see it today (overrun with advertising and fraudulent, insidious tactics)?

If yes, what was the choice?

What would happen to these newspapers if they failed to "cooperate" with Google?

Re: The Many Ways Google Harvests Data

#94
post #77

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The whole tracking thing should be outlawed in my opinion. It's like saying that because windows are transparent, it is ok to stare into people's living rooms. It's not - irrespective of transparency or lack of curtains. In a world where that is clearly not ok, then why is it that this kind of thing (tracking) is deemed ok? What we need is something that does to our online privacy, what curtains did for peoples real…

It's like saying that because windows are transparent, it is ok to stare into people's living rooms. It's not - irrespective of transparency or lack of curtains. Nope. When you enter someone else’s place of business, you have no expectation of privacy. These websites belong to private entities. So it’s more like saying that because you voluntarily walked into my store, it’s ok for me to observe your behavior while yo…

>Nope. When you enter someone else’s place of business, you have no expectation of privacy.

This is only somewhat true. At the spa for instance, you very much have an expectation of privacy. Practically speaking it is sort of contextual? Even at say a restaurant, I would be both surprised and disconcerted to discovered the business had recorded the entire conversation that occurred at my table, even though I would be unsurprised by a bit of eavesdropping.

Re: The Many Ways Google Harvests Data

#95
post #3

Just some of the ways Google collects data [1]: Google Search, Google Fiber, Google Recaptcha, Google Translate, Google Adsense, Google Chrome (Safe Browsing checks etc.), Google DNS (8.8.4.4 etc.), Google Mail, Android Integrations, Google GSuite (Sheets, Docs, etc.), Google Drive, Google Analytics, Google AMP, YouTube So on and so forth. Of course, Google keeps most of this data to themselves to improve products an…

And the Google Fonts CDN.

Re: The Many Ways Google Harvests Data

#96
post #84

Earlier quoted context omitted.

By tracking, I mean MicroG/Google Play Services controls location services, not Android OS.

.. but does the location leave the device?

That's a great question. I cannot conclusively say that Google Play Services does that, but I cannot think of another reason for why Android would be set up that way.

I welcome any alternative conclusions though.

Re: The Many Ways Google Harvests Data

#97
post #3

Just some of the ways Google collects data [1]: Google Search, Google Fiber, Google Recaptcha, Google Translate, Google Adsense, Google Chrome (Safe Browsing checks etc.), Google DNS (8.8.4.4 etc.), Google Mail, Android Integrations, Google GSuite (Sheets, Docs, etc.), Google Drive, Google Analytics, Google AMP, YouTube So on and so forth. Of course, Google keeps most of this data to themselves to improve products an…

> Google Drive

With the small drop of faith I have left in Google, I want to believe they don't read my files and use encryption. Is there any evidence to the contrary?

Re: The Many Ways Google Harvests Data

#98
post #91

Earlier quoted context omitted.

That's ridiculous. If a normal shopper walked into a store and had surveillance on him/her (I don't mean the normal security cameras here - I'm talking about in depth surveillance, the in-person equivalent of a website tracker), I am sure them same stores would go out of business fast. The point here is that they do it just because the snooping is invisible. And that irks me.

You do know that most big stores use automated video analysis nowadays to optimize inventory placement, analyze in-store traffic flow, detect shoplifting, detect slip and falls, etc right? Some have begun using license plate readers at parking lot entrances. Oh and...they are completely within their rights to do it.....being a private business and all. The point is, don't come on my property - physical or virtual - u…

My point, is that there is "observed" and there is "observed".

Re: The Many Ways Google Harvests Data

#99
post #52

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> Google's own recording of your location, for their purposes, cannot be turned off. Citation needed. Android even lets you turn off AGPS, which collects anonymous location data to update itself. As far as I know, this is not even possible on iOS.

I'll copy an earlier post of what I found: On Android, I noted before that when I turned on and off location services, the GPS lock was near instantaneous (i.e. when I turned on location, Google Maps located me with GPS precision immediately. There could be other ways of how this happens, it was noted in another post of mine, but that had still had me a bit suspicious. I replaced Google Play Services with microG rece…

Wait, microG does this stuff too? Or did you mean OpenGApps?

Re: The Many Ways Google Harvests Data

#100
post #97
post #3

Just some of the ways Google collects data [1]: Google Search, Google Fiber, Google Recaptcha, Google Translate, Google Adsense, Google Chrome (Safe Browsing checks etc.), Google DNS (8.8.4.4 etc.), Google Mail, Android Integrations, Google GSuite (Sheets, Docs, etc.), Google Drive, Google Analytics, Google AMP, YouTube So on and so forth. Of course, Google keeps most of this data to themselves to improve products an…

> Google Drive With the small drop of faith I have left in Google, I want to believe they don't read my files and use encryption. Is there any evidence to the contrary?

See: https://www.reddit.com/r/KotakuInAction/comments/875bu4/goog...
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