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Google – My Activity

myactivity.google.com

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Re: Google – My Activity

#121

Post by ineedasername »

edjrage wrote: post #93
losvedir wrote: post #84

I guess I'll be the lone voice chiming in that I find this pretty useful. There's been a number of times I've been like "oh, what's that song I asked Google to identify a month ago?" or "what was that page I managed to find last year by searching about [x]?" that I've been able to remember via this tool. Yeah, Google knows everything about me. C'est la vie. At least it's useful. What exactly is the threat model that…

I have to say I'm almost more shocked at the number of "shocked" comments here than at the page itself. Not only because of what you mentioned, but also one would expect an audience like HN to know about this. Google has even nagged me with notifications to take a look at this page several times in the past. Also, for some weird reason (maybe because I'm using browser extensions?) my entries seem to come from the fut…

Then tell yourself now that you will search for stock quotes in the future. If you follow through in the future then that information should show up now. If you don't destroy causality and blow up the universe, you'll be rich.

Re: Google – My Activity

#122

Post by NotHereNotThere »

o10449366 wrote: post #104

It's honestly hilarious and sad to see so many commenters here defending and excusing Google because the services they provide are "free." Somehow Hacker News thinks this argument isn't applicable to Facebook. The truth of the matter is that both companies are committing huge privacy violations, but Google has managed to convince Hacker News and the US media (NYT in particular) that they aren't evil still. Good ridda…

You should probably refrain from using blanket statements like "Hacker News thinks that or does this".

I've see comments on HN by users from incredibly diverse fields, expertise, ages, countries, etc.

If you think a specific comment in this thread reflects your blanket statement then address it directly, but overall it makes me dismiss anything you've written.

And it doesn't contribute much to the discussion

Re: Google – My Activity

#123

Post by sizzle »

mtgx wrote: post #40
danShumway wrote: post #13

On this subject https://myaccount.google.com/purchases Turning off all of the controls under myactivity won't stop Google from scanning your emails to track any purchases you make. The only way to stop that is to switch off of Gmail.

If Google isn't providing a way to stop that sort of data collection in the EU, then it's a clear violation of GDPR.

Interested to know if GDPR will force their hand to comply in this matter. Anyone know?

Re: Google – My Activity

#124

Post by tooop »

stedaniels wrote: post #37
danShumway wrote: post #13

On this subject https://myaccount.google.com/purchases Turning off all of the controls under myactivity won't stop Google from scanning your emails to track any purchases you make. The only way to stop that is to switch off of Gmail.

Is this a US only thing? Mine is empty.. UK/Gsuite

I think for some reason Google parser is very limited - the only thing i see is Steam / Google Play purchases, not even Paypal. I am in Europe and not using GSuite.

Re: Google – My Activity

#125

Post by ineedasername »

kekebo wrote: post #120
losvedir wrote: post #84

I guess I'll be the lone voice chiming in that I find this pretty useful. There's been a number of times I've been like "oh, what's that song I asked Google to identify a month ago?" or "what was that page I managed to find last year by searching about [x]?" that I've been able to remember via this tool. Yeah, Google knows everything about me. C'est la vie. At least it's useful. What exactly is the threat model that…

Usefulness shouldn't justify evil. It may be more comfortable to shrug it off that way but it also helps to normalize it. There are a couple of examples in history where similar attitude on a societal level ultimately led to the most terrible of outcomes.

I don't think it's productive to categorize tracking of this sort as evil itself. As with any technology, the applications to which it is put are the determining factor of the morality of the tech. In the case of a user knowingly trading their personal information for free applications and some amount of convenience, I don't see evil when that personal information serves the purpose of targeted advertising. When used for targeting web content that might push a person's view more towards the extreme end of the spectrum, we're getting into the gray area quite a bit. Using that information to identify political enemies of the state and preemptively silence them, then yes I'd say that crossed over into the evil side of the spectrum.

Re: Google – My Activity

#126

Post by kossae »

sajithdilshan wrote: post #69
glerk wrote: post #22

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Do you enjoy your free email account, free maps, free YouTube and free search?

My email (gmail) is bound with so many services (both online and offline) and it is part of my online identity. It would be so much effort to change the email now. I don't think there is an alternative to google maps which is in the same level as quality and richness in information. I would be totally lost without google maps when I'm traveling to other countries, especially when it comes to public transportation lik…

> My email (gmail) is bound with so many services (both online and offline) and it is part of my online identity. It would be so much effort to change the email now.

This is the same effort I've undertaken in moving to FastMail (or any other similar service). It's not as bad as you think, just change your e-mail every time you log in to a new service. You don't have to do everything as once, but instead when you actual access the service.

I'm now to the point where I don't receive any important e-mail in Gmail anymore, and most (at least all important) of my online identities are now pointed at my personal email address.

Re: Google – My Activity

#127

Post by xfer »

jmkni wrote: post #41
glerk wrote: post #22

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Do you enjoy your free email account, free maps, free YouTube and free search?

I pay for GSuite (custom domain), can I turn this shit off?

Can't remember if everything was turned off at the beginning but i only have youtube activity enabled since i want to revisit it sometimes.

Re: Google – My Activity

#128

Post by balaksakrionon »

kelp wrote: post #58
danShumway wrote: post #13

On this subject https://myaccount.google.com/purchases Turning off all of the controls under myactivity won't stop Google from scanning your emails to track any purchases you make. The only way to stop that is to switch off of Gmail.

This is what finally prompted me to move to Fastmail after being on G Suite since 2007. Even though I have to pay for Fastmail and was grandfathered into free on G Suite. Pretty happy with it so far. Now going through the process of reducing all the places I use Google services. Moved my personal stuff from GCP to Digital Ocean. Gmail to Fastmail. Chrome to Firefox / Safari. Currently seeing if Zoho is a good substit…

Fastmail is unfortunately very bad too now due to recent Australian legislation.

Re: Google – My Activity

#129

Post by jasonvorhe »

losvedir wrote: post #84

I guess I'll be the lone voice chiming in that I find this pretty useful. There's been a number of times I've been like "oh, what's that song I asked Google to identify a month ago?" or "what was that page I managed to find last year by searching about [x]?" that I've been able to remember via this tool. Yeah, Google knows everything about me. C'est la vie. At least it's useful. What exactly is the threat model that…

Thanks for being a voice of reason.

Re: Google – My Activity

#130

Post by Aengeuad »

stedaniels wrote: post #37
danShumway wrote: post #13

On this subject https://myaccount.google.com/purchases Turning off all of the controls under myactivity won't stop Google from scanning your emails to track any purchases you make. The only way to stop that is to switch off of Gmail.

Is this a US only thing? Mine is empty.. UK/Gsuite

No, I have years of purchase history from the UK. As another commenter mentioned it's not particularly comprehensive though.
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