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Google finally revealed how much personal data they collect in Chrome

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Re: Google finally revealed how much personal data they collect in Chrome

#31

Controversial opinion: Half the data Chrome collects is harmless, and the other half is up to the user to give up: - Location data: you are asked and must approve for Chrome to use (at least on macOS) - Financial data: you must enter it manually and click "save for future use". Could it be better? Sure! But I think DDG is exaggerating here. We're not _that_ bad.

Half the data Chrome collects is harmless

If true, that still doesn't negate the other half that is not harmless.

More importantly, how about I get to choose what I consider harmless, rather than having a Silicon Valley advertising agency do that for me?

Also, there's no way of knowing what Google shoves into the "other" category. Sunlight disinfects, even in Mountain View.

Re: Google finally revealed how much personal data they collect in Chrome

#32

Controversial opinion: Half the data Chrome collects is harmless, and the other half is up to the user to give up: - Location data: you are asked and must approve for Chrome to use (at least on macOS) - Financial data: you must enter it manually and click "save for future use". Could it be better? Sure! But I think DDG is exaggerating here. We're not _that_ bad.

If you chose to allow Chrome to know your location, so it can show you on the map, do you consent to have your location tracked continuously and associated with your Google account?

Fair point, I do believe we shouldn't live in a world where we have to continously watch what flags has our software enabled, but I guess I'm someone who's always alert (or at least that's what I tell myself).

At this point, I think mine is more of a nihilism towards this as I cut everything at the only reliable level: the network. But even then, I've hammered myself way too much over privacy, and it didn't make me any happier, since, at the end of the day, if anyone wants to track you, they'll track you.

Re: Google finally revealed how much personal data they collect in Chrome

#33
post #4

Why would you use a proprietary browser when Firefox is around?

Not all devices permit installing freestanding browsers (applies more to iOS /Safari).

The Chrome engine provides app Web functionality (on Android).

Forcing all Chrome users to disclose data is coercive.

Chrome has ~70% browser share.

Re: Google finally revealed how much personal data they collect in Chrome

#36

Controversial opinion: Half the data Chrome collects is harmless, and the other half is up to the user to give up: - Location data: you are asked and must approve for Chrome to use (at least on macOS) - Financial data: you must enter it manually and click "save for future use". Could it be better? Sure! But I think DDG is exaggerating here. We're not _that_ bad.

For a first step these labels are okay but I would like for the developers to have to provide more details on the what/why/whatfor for all these points to settle exactly this dispute.

Re: Google finally revealed how much personal data they collect in Chrome

#37

Controversial opinion: Half the data Chrome collects is harmless, and the other half is up to the user to give up: - Location data: you are asked and must approve for Chrome to use (at least on macOS) - Financial data: you must enter it manually and click "save for future use". Could it be better? Sure! But I think DDG is exaggerating here. We're not _that_ bad.

If you chose to allow Chrome to know your location, so it can show you on the map, do you consent to have your location tracked continuously and associated with your Google account?

The interesting thing is the failure mode if you don't agree to continuous tracking. Google uses the last place it was allowed to track you to instead of allowing the user to specifically enable a location update for "near me" queries to maps or the assistant. It may not be meant as one but it feels like a dark pattern, particularly when you can tap an icon to update your position in maps but any "near me" requests still go back to the last tracked location.

Re: Google finally revealed how much personal data they collect in Chrome

#38

Controversial opinion: Half the data Chrome collects is harmless, and the other half is up to the user to give up: - Location data: you are asked and must approve for Chrome to use (at least on macOS) - Financial data: you must enter it manually and click "save for future use". Could it be better? Sure! But I think DDG is exaggerating here. We're not _that_ bad.

> Location data: you are asked and must approve for Chrome to use (at least on macOS)

Now if only we could take away Apple's ability to create a walled-garden...

Re: Google finally revealed how much personal data they collect in Chrome

#39

Controversial opinion: Half the data Chrome collects is harmless, and the other half is up to the user to give up: - Location data: you are asked and must approve for Chrome to use (at least on macOS) - Financial data: you must enter it manually and click "save for future use". Could it be better? Sure! But I think DDG is exaggerating here. We're not _that_ bad.

If you chose to allow Chrome to know your location, so it can show you on the map, do you consent to have your location tracked continuously and associated with your Google account?

It's actually annoying, you have to go turn on a setting somewhere. I've had a few folks frustrated with this, I think for most users if they give google access to their location they expect google will remember it.
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