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Google knows where we are, and so do advertisers

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Re: Google knows where we are, and so do advertisers

#151

Post by Mediterraneo10 »

harry-wood wrote: post #121

I can recommend OpenStreetMap alternatives mentioned at the end of the article. I'm not sure why it says they "still collect data". Pretty sure OsmAnd and Maps.ME are not collecting data in any surprising/evil ways (particularly as they can work entirely offline!) The article says they "just aren’t as good" which obviously isn't very specific, but if you live in an area where the map detail doesn't seem so good, then…

OsmAnd still uses Android's own built-in geolocation to get network-assisted GPS location, and that built-in geolocation defaults to Google’s servers. So, Google still knows where you are even if you use an OSM-based map app instead of Google Maps.

Maps.me is an advertising-based business, and it is also controversial in the OSM community because it fails to properly credit OSM in violation of OSM’s license.

Re: Google knows where we are, and so do advertisers

#152

Post by ignoramous »

Mediterraneo10 wrote: post #18

One of the most disappointing changes in Android recently is that any network-assisted geolocation plugins must now be installed as a system app, not a user app. That means that even if you use LineageOS where most Google stuff has been stripped out, getting a GPS fix through network assistance still sends data to Google servers. Only a tiny minority of users are comfortable working with the command line and will ins…

Private DNS (DNS over TLS) also sends metrics to a Google endpoint on every network change, as a way to detect connectivity. AOSP is truly a surveillance software.

Re: Google knows where we are, and so do advertisers

#153

Post by m0guz »

raxxorrax wrote: post #39
Mediterraneo10 wrote: post #18

One of the most disappointing changes in Android recently is that any network-assisted geolocation plugins must now be installed as a system app, not a user app. That means that even if you use LineageOS where most Google stuff has been stripped out, getting a GPS fix through network assistance still sends data to Google servers. Only a tiny minority of users are comfortable working with the command line and will ins…

I always deactivate geolocation and I assume and hope it doesn't phone home to Google in that case. I still deactivate network if I don't need it. Android devices cannot really be trusted and it seems to be getting worse. Of course I am not using contact tracing either in this case, but I certainly won't allow Google to trace my location.

Even if you disable geolocation, Google can learn your location via Wifi/Access points nearby easily. It should be easy to cross references you (geolocation disabled) and others (one of them enabled geolocation) in the same network for Google.

> Google retains a detailed map of known Wi-Fi networks and access points. By knowing the exact location of these networks, and your proximity to them, its location services can gauge your location with roughly 30 feet of accuracy. [0]

[0] https://slate.com/technology/2018/06/how-google-uses-wi-fi-n...

Re: Google knows where we are, and so do advertisers

#154

Post by javert »

hoot wrote: post #132
absolutelyrad wrote: post #109

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> https://transparencyreport.google.com/user-data/overview WTF? This makes me extremely uncomfortable for some reason. There was some hope in mind that Snowden was exaggerating but this is just insane. It feels like liberty has failed. There's no other option but to give in and accept. I submit to the overlords, but I'm not happy about this.

Liberty is not free. If you value it, then you're going to have to fight for it. Submission now leads to your descendants living in an oppressive dystopia.

It leads to us living in an oppressive dystopia.

Re: Google knows where we are, and so do advertisers

#155

Post by prox »

izacus wrote: post #55
Mediterraneo10 wrote: post #34

Earlier quoted context omitted.

No, the LineageOS devs say that their project does not aim to completely de-Google the OS, only remove Google Play Services and some Google applications like Maps. Thus, geolocation, DNS and login portal detection in LineageOS still use Google's servers.

Ugh, that's very disappointing then, I've always advised Lineage to people who wanted to deGoogle their phones :/

You are literally on a phone that was/is heavily subsidized by Google. They hold all the keys and own all the doors, if you want to degoogle, go Purism/Pinephone/Linuxphone.

Re: Google knows where we are, and so do advertisers

#156

Post by Aunche »

tabs_masterrace wrote: post #57

The number of government requests for user information is actually scary: https://transparencyreport.google.com/user-data/overview So Google handed over info on 175k accounts in the last half of 2019 alone? It seems it's becoming common practice to routinely pull citizens data, without much of a warrant and without the target's knowledge. There used to be a thing called secrecy of correspondence, preventing governmen…

You're assuming that they're citizen accounts rather than fake accounts from pedophiles, spammers, and scammers.

Re: Google knows where we are, and so do advertisers

#157

Post by gpanders »

izacus wrote: post #127
prepend wrote: post #124

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Apple Maps doesn’t sell that data to advertisers. And they collect much less than Google.

Last I checked Google didn't sell data to anyone either. I'm also interested in the claim that Apple Maps collects less data in this respect - they both report your current location for traffic analysis and have your day-to-day movement option available (the same that powers Find My Friends on iOS). Are you sure you're just not rationalizing Apples collection? It's kinda important to be realistic when it comes to pri…

IIRC the only data sent to Apple is the crowdsourced traffic data, which can be disabled. Everything else stays on device or is E2E encrypted.

Re: Google knows where we are, and so do advertisers

#158

Post by gberger »

Aunche wrote: post #156
tabs_masterrace wrote: post #57

The number of government requests for user information is actually scary: https://transparencyreport.google.com/user-data/overview So Google handed over info on 175k accounts in the last half of 2019 alone? It seems it's becoming common practice to routinely pull citizens data, without much of a warrant and without the target's knowledge. There used to be a thing called secrecy of correspondence, preventing governmen…

You're assuming that they're citizen accounts rather than fake accounts from pedophiles, spammers, and scammers.

Pedophiles, spammers, and scammers are still citizens.

Re: Google knows where we are, and so do advertisers

#159

Post by ir77 »

i dabbed into android when the pixel 2 came out, i wanted to see how much greener the grass was on the otherside after using iphone since the 4.

two things i noticed beyond this "location history" that absolutely crepped me out - especially when it recorded a loop i took walking my toddler around our neighborhood at the time that was seriously better than any track that my garmin fenix could record of my runs:

1) simply asking the assistant : "call contact x" would say the assistant could not perform the task because it needed location history enabled -- why? it's in my contact list just execute the function!

2) simply asking the assistnat : "make alo call to contaxt x" would tell me the error above along with "google has not enabled that function yet". this was, at the time, the flagship of google and goole assistant couldn't even integrate with google's own apps?

it's amazing to me how people here defend android and google and the insane amount of information that they're giving to this company all because they want to sideload an app onto their phone? i can do the same thing on my iphone, no, it's not as easy or as quick as "allow aps from unkown sources", but christ, think about what you're giving up.

Re: Google knows where we are, and so do advertisers

#160

Post by goodluckchuck »

Aunche wrote: post #156
tabs_masterrace wrote: post #57

The number of government requests for user information is actually scary: https://transparencyreport.google.com/user-data/overview So Google handed over info on 175k accounts in the last half of 2019 alone? It seems it's becoming common practice to routinely pull citizens data, without much of a warrant and without the target's knowledge. There used to be a thing called secrecy of correspondence, preventing governmen…

You're assuming that they're citizen accounts rather than fake accounts from pedophiles, spammers, and scammers.

You're not exactly using FirstNameLastName as your account either.
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