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New study: Google manipulates users into constant tracking

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Re: New study: Google manipulates users into constant tracking

#41

Post by einarfd »

northerdome wrote: post #10

Honestly tired of Europe pretending like they are so high and mighty for flagging tech companies for "privacy violations." Frankly it's insulting to say that adults cannot decide for themselves how they want their data used. At this point, users know if you turn on Google tracks you. It is worth it to many for the convenience of quality results Google delivers. If it isn't turn it off. But to say it is Google's fault…

So how do you expect adults to be able make an informed choice if Google is using deceptive design and misleading information?

I'm sure most of the people here, have the know-how and information to make an informed choice. But wouldn't it be nice if people that aren't working in the field or have a degree in STEM could to?

Re: New study: Google manipulates users into constant tracking

#42

Post by lez »

sf_rob wrote: post #8

The thing that drives me nuts is (at least last time I set them up) Google Home and Android Auto both require Location and Web Activity permissions at an account level. I don't understand why Google just can't offer a subset of functionality on these devices rather than forcing you to have enable these permissions.

I think it's not about "understanding" cognitively, it's about really, deeply believing this is happening to us.

Re: New study: Google manipulates users into constant tracking

#44

Post by Tepix »

northerdome wrote: post #10

Honestly tired of Europe pretending like they are so high and mighty for flagging tech companies for "privacy violations." Frankly it's insulting to say that adults cannot decide for themselves how they want their data used. At this point, users know if you turn on Google tracks you. It is worth it to many for the convenience of quality results Google delivers. If it isn't turn it off. But to say it is Google's fault…

That's not what they are complaining about. It's the manipulation, dark patterns and lack of information.

Re: New study: Google manipulates users into constant tracking

#45

Post by jerf »

This dark pattern seems to be spreading. Amazon recently pushed out an update to their (beta last I knew) web app that allows you to use their smile.amazon.com charity donation through the app. But in order to turn that on, you have to turn on all the notifications the app has, including their rather constant pushes of "deals I may be interested in". They're holding you hostage to their notifications because "it's for charity!"

Not that this is news, but clearly Silicon Valley has no intention of retraining itself in any manner. Every wheedling trick in the book will be used to track you, up to and including holding arbitrary charities emotionally hostage.

Re: New study: Google manipulates users into constant tracking

#46

Post by annapurna »

Android users are pushed through a variety of techniques:

  Deceptive click flow
  Hidden default settings
  Misleading and unbalanced information
  Repeated nudging
  Bundling of services and lack of granular choices*
Deceptive click flow is the click-flow when setting up an Android device pushes users into enabling “Location History” without being aware of it.*

Hidden Default settings is [when] setting up a Google account, the Web & App activity settings are hidden behind extra clicks and enabled by default.

Third one is users not given sufficient information when presented with choices, and are misled about what data is collected and how it is used.

Repeated nudging is users being repeatedly asked to turn on “Location History” when using different Google services even if they decided against this feature when setting up their phone.

And finally, bundling services when for example if the user wants features such as Google Assistant and photos sorted by location, Google turns on invasive location tracking.

I would believe most of us HN crowd are fully aware of the pros and cons of such tracking and make our choices accordingly (using these tools/software/devices). However, for the majority (yes, they may not appear to be interested in privacy as yesterday's FB quarterly report shows), are they aware of how much data is being collected, how it could be misused, etc.? We, as a society, should do our part in pushing back against such indiscriminate tracking. No specific call to action. For my older parents, I have switched them to iPhone 6S and have gradually gotten older family relatives to do the same as well.

Re: New study: Google manipulates users into constant tracking

#48

Post by ape4 »

paganel wrote: post #26
levesque wrote: post #4

I tried using Google Maps without search history turned on. It's basically a downgraded version. They tied saving locations with the search history, so it won't let you search for friends' contacts, set a home address, etc. Is it on purpose? I don't know, but I find it weird that they would tie some unrelated features together. Why does setting a Home address require search history?

> so it won't let you (...) set a home address That's a feature for me.

I have my google home set to a place I often go to. Not my home.

Re: New study: Google manipulates users into constant tracking

#49

Post by Tepix »

snazz wrote: post #29
mscasts wrote: post #5

This is scary stuff. Thank you norway for taking the fight against Google. How can you turn this off on an android?

Installing LineageOS without any Google apps (including Google Play Services) might be the only way to continue using Android minus the tracking. You lose quite a bit of convenience for this, though. And of course, you’re still being tracked by virtue of it being a cell phone with a baseband processor (see my comment at https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=18821444 ).

Your carrier will know where you are (and have been). Are you saying this information is also available to apps?

Re: New study: Google manipulates users into constant tracking

#50

Post by tossaccount123 »

benschulz wrote: post #14
baxtr wrote: post #3

"If you have something that you don't want anyone to know, maybe you shouldn't be doing it in the first place." Eric Schmidt, 2009

This attitude makes me so off the charts angry, I struggle to put it into words. I think Jews in Germany in the 1920s didn't think they were doing anything wrong, or feel a need to actively hide it.

It's fascinating how obviously smart people can rationalize their actions.

Schmidt and Google claim to be "progressive" but that kind of rationale of "nothing to hide" would mean that every progressive movement would have been shut down in its early stages had this kind of tech and surveillance been available at the time because it went against what was currently judged as right by the people in power

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