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Google to turn on activity tracking for many users who turned it off

news.ycombinator.com

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Re: Google to turn on activity tracking for many users who turned it off

#151

Post by oefrha »

twhb wrote: post #108
riverguardian wrote: post #70

Hello hello, PM for the feature checking in here. amf12's reply is quite on-point. Web and App Activity is designed to store search activity across all Google services, and we're splitting Workspace data out since it's governed by strict data handling guarantees, with the hope that more people will feel comfortable getting the benefits of better search in Workspace without having to opt-into search history being trac…

Your comments and the email both are written like nobody really wants tracking off, at least not if they know what’s good for them. Is that what you believe?

If you’re worried about “tracking”, you probably should have moved off Google Workspace before this change. “I’ll hand all my emails and files to you in plain text, but hey, why are you storing my access patterns (and telling me about it)?” is such a weird concern.

Re: Google to turn on activity tracking for many users who turned it off

#152

Post by drawfloat »

richardles wrote: post #129
riverguardian wrote: post #70

Hello hello, PM for the feature checking in here. amf12's reply is quite on-point. Web and App Activity is designed to store search activity across all Google services, and we're splitting Workspace data out since it's governed by strict data handling guarantees, with the hope that more people will feel comfortable getting the benefits of better search in Workspace without having to opt-into search history being trac…

I applaud your courage for posting here given the level of animosity in the room. I think this change is good. It seems to take away the decision from the admin and put it solely in the hand of the user which is great. More granular user control is also good (although that UI for deciding what gets recorded is getting messy). Default ON is reasonable imo. Especially given that the data is only used to improve the pro…

Default ON when it is known a user has previously opted out is not reasonable.

Re: Google to turn on activity tracking for many users who turned it off

#153

Post by gruturo »

extr wrote: post #134
xg15 wrote: post #116

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> The premise here is that search is an integral part of the product experience of using Google Workspace. We don't offer controls that separate each piece of functionality within Workspace products. The reason there _is_ one governing both Workspace and non-Workspace data (the current Web and App Activity setting) is mostly historical in nature, and the fact that there are two existing controls (one for the admin, o…

I disagree. I think the point is reasonable. I personally find it useful to refer to my past searches/activity, especially in a professional context, and it would be unintuitive to me if such a feature was turned off by default.

People are just asking to have it off if they currently have the related setting off.

Re: Google to turn on activity tracking for many users who turned it off

#154

Post by robertlagrant »

bryanrasmussen wrote: post #111
riverguardian wrote: post #70

Hello hello, PM for the feature checking in here. amf12's reply is quite on-point. Web and App Activity is designed to store search activity across all Google services, and we're splitting Workspace data out since it's governed by strict data handling guarantees, with the hope that more people will feel comfortable getting the benefits of better search in Workspace without having to opt-into search history being trac…

Will this be different for European users because of GDPR (default on that is, the splitting sounds like it would be a GDPR win), if not what are the arguments for it being GDPR compliant? What happens to data of searches of users that were in a Workspace and no longer are, by being fired or by no longer paying for the service themselves? What happens if they move to a new organization?

Presumably just like all your corporate Slack or Teams chat history, or your emails, the things you did on company time remain the property of the company you're employed by.

Re: Google to turn on activity tracking for many users who turned it off

#155

Post by nottorp »

riverguardian wrote: post #70

Hello hello, PM for the feature checking in here. amf12's reply is quite on-point. Web and App Activity is designed to store search activity across all Google services, and we're splitting Workspace data out since it's governed by strict data handling guarantees, with the hope that more people will feel comfortable getting the benefits of better search in Workspace without having to opt-into search history being trac…

In summary, no one trusts your employer any more no matter what they say.

> Search history can be immensely useful for our users

See the various comments spread across all HN articles stating that Google Search has become useless.

Re: Google to turn on activity tracking for many users who turned it off

#156

Post by foxfluff »

lumost wrote: post #8
indymike wrote: post #6

Dear Google: you are becoming less likable by the second. For a long time you were the champion of user experience and you forced a lot of sleazy products to change or go out of business. Recently, it's like you've systematically discovered every dark pattern your evangelists once scorned. Please, please flip the don't be evil bit back to on. Evil Google is not very likable.

On the other side, DuckDuckGo is becoming pretty reasonable. I now only need to flip back to google for some hard to search technical topics. DDG also brings up a ton more of the old internet, you get way more variety in the search results.

Will they stay reasonable? "DuckDuckGo gains revenue via advertisements and affiliate programs."

Today I'm quite skeptical of any business that doesn't have a proper business model. I've seen it too many times: offer nice free things until you have enough users, and then start squeezing. Bait and switch.

At this point I'm more interested in internet search that isn't reliant on the goodwill and dignity of a private company.

Re: Google to turn on activity tracking for many users who turned it off

#157

Post by Aurelius3 »

_zllx wrote: post #14

Use LineageOS+microG and (at the very least) Aurora Store on your phone. Use Firefox containers to sequester all Google services away from your other activity. Of course, use uBlock Origin. Achieve near total peace of mind when faced with things like this. Soon, I want to unsubscribe from all YouTube channels and move them over to RSS. I'll use a third-party YouTube client to watch videos queued from my feeds. Then,…

What is the reason firefox containers can't be used in private browsing mode? I really want to use them but also want to clear all stored data after closing a window. So far I've just been using firefox nightly, firefox, and ungoogled chromium to give me a total of three maximum "containers"... Is there a better way to benefit from private browsing modes while allowing for more containers?

Re: Google to turn on activity tracking for many users who turned it off

#158

Post by rzz3 »

riverguardian wrote: post #70

Hello hello, PM for the feature checking in here. amf12's reply is quite on-point. Web and App Activity is designed to store search activity across all Google services, and we're splitting Workspace data out since it's governed by strict data handling guarantees, with the hope that more people will feel comfortable getting the benefits of better search in Workspace without having to opt-into search history being trac…

Default it to whatever the user’s google-wide activity settings are. Let admins disable it for the whole org.

Re: Google to turn on activity tracking for many users who turned it off

#159

Post by nicce »

Lio wrote: post #112
dbuder wrote: post #79

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Would you like to upgrade to windows 11? You said no so I'll offer it again on the very next screen and give no way to turn off the nag Would you like to login to your own computer with an online microsoft account - again no way to turn off the nag Want to exit Teams or Onedrive? nag And both m$ an google (via chrome) are scanning your computer for executables - for your safety of course!

Sadly I see similar behaviour from Apple on iOS. When they change the terms of iCloud use the options are agree or the passive aggressive “Maybe be latter”. That really means we’ll keep asking you until you agree. Any company using the phrase “maybe latter” instead of “no” is not one you can trust.

To be honest, ToS is a bit different thing. You have no right to use services without accepting it at some point.

Re: Google to turn on activity tracking for many users who turned it off

#160

Post by asdff »

quartesixte wrote: post #102
asdff wrote: post #68

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Every single enterprise company I know of pays for gsuite. Every university too. They could just lean into that.

? As far as I am aware, Microsoft Office is still the dominant, de facto platform of the corporate world. Gsuite is the underdog here and I wonder if they’re having trouble with retention and new customer acquisition.

They pay for both usually. You get one person who wants g suite in a department and IT buys an institutional license.
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