An unwanted update to your Google Account

#1

Post by olvy0 » Sat, Jun 19, 2021, 2:29 PM UTC

An unwanted update to your Google Account
roboleary.net

Re: An unwanted update to your Google Account

#2

Post by Jaygles » Sat, Jun 19, 2021, 2:49 PM UTC

I understand the author's frustration. But until someone finds out how a company that operates globally can satisfy the laws of the countries their customers are located in without associating the accounts with a country, I'm not sure what we can do.

> What I find curious is that it says the services are essentially the same between different countries. So, there is no advantage to me as a consumer for anything to change.

The advantage to the consumer is that they have access to the services at all. Countries have the ability to completely cut off their citizens to a service if they don't follow their laws.

Re: An unwanted update to your Google Account

#3

Post by axiosgunnar » Sat, Jun 19, 2021, 2:56 PM UTC

The author is aware that his account ended up being associated with Malaysia, right?

I have the impression he mistakenly thinks it stayed with Germany?

Re: An unwanted update to your Google Account

#4

Post by encryptluks2 » Sat, Jun 19, 2021, 2:57 PM UTC

Do you have Google One or a Workspace plan? I'd be curious if you contact support from there if they are able to assist you. Last I checked, Google One offers a free trial.

Re: An unwanted update to your Google Account

#5

Post by efitz » Sat, Jun 19, 2021, 2:59 PM UTC

Why are you using Google if privacy is this much of a concern for you?

There are many other services that provide much better privacy protections, eg ProtonMail.

Re: An unwanted update to your Google Account

#6

Post by eyeinthepyramid » Sat, Jun 19, 2021, 3:01 PM UTC

axiosgunnar wrote: post #3

The author is aware that his account ended up being associated with Malaysia, right? I have the impression he mistakenly thinks it stayed with Germany?

Didn't he want it to stay with Germany?

Re: An unwanted update to your Google Account

#7

Post by nerbert » Sat, Jun 19, 2021, 3:04 PM UTC

efitz wrote: post #5

Why are you using Google if privacy is this much of a concern for you? There are many other services that provide much better privacy protections, eg ProtonMail.

Spoiler alert: in 10 years a leak reveals that ProtonMail is one of the multiple "Swiss-based privacy-oriented" services operated by secret services.

Re: An unwanted update to your Google Account

#8

Post by floatingatoll » Sat, Jun 19, 2021, 3:04 PM UTC

Can EU citizens living in Malaysia long-term exercise their GDPR rights when Google decides that they reside in Malaysia?

Re: An unwanted update to your Google Account

#9

Post by nerdponx » Sat, Jun 19, 2021, 3:05 PM UTC

Jaygles wrote: post #2

I understand the author's frustration. But until someone finds out how a company that operates globally can satisfy the laws of the countries their customers are located in without associating the accounts with a country, I'm not sure what we can do. > What I find curious is that it says the services are essentially the same between different countries. So, there is no advantage to me as a consumer for anything to ch…

I don't mind sharing my country of residence, of all things.

Re: An unwanted update to your Google Account

#10

Post by blfr » Sat, Jun 19, 2021, 3:06 PM UTC

There is a disadvantage for me, because the privacy laws in Europe are stronger than Asia, I lose some privacy protection. Is this a coincidence?

Maybe not but some of my accounts have been associated with European Google entities so it works both ways. It seems that they're simply sorting by IP from which you most often access it since consistent use of proxies resulted in predictable country association.