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maps.google.com now redirects to google.com/maps

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Re: maps.google.com now redirects to google.com/maps

#241

Post by Ensorceled »

jstummbillig wrote: post #145
stingraycharles wrote: post #137

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It may not be the only reason, but you’re being too generous if you don’t think this was at least one of the reasons they did it. Other than some abstract “branding” campaign, I cannot really see many other reasons why they would be doing this. And as someone who worked in adtech in the past, it was very well known that Google used their domain as their tracking cookie domain as it’s nearly impossible for adblockers…

> but you’re being too generous if you don’t think this was at least one of the reasons they did it If you consider it absolutely unthinkable that it was not one of the reasons, it's you who is being too generous. Unconsidered side effects occur plentiful and all the time.

> If you consider it absolutely unthinkable that it was not one of the reasons, it's you who is being too generous.

The person you are replying to didn't use the word "unthinkable" or even imply it.

I think you are being either incredibly naive or disingenuous if you believe an adtech giant like google doesn't factor changes to data gathering into every single decision they make.

Re: maps.google.com now redirects to google.com/maps

#242

Post by WhyNotHugo »

__michaelg wrote: post #126

This is a fantastic example of motivated reasoning. This "change" (which apparently isn't even new) can have so many different reasons, some of which are less harmful and some of which are probably worse (privacy-wise) than the one mentioned here. There is no indication that re/mis-using permissions is specifically what they wanted to do here, there is also no example of them doing it right now. Don't get me wrong, t…

The change may have happened for any of many reasons. Regardless of which reason was the motivator, it's clear impact is reducing user privacy. When talking about a tracking/advertising company, so it's kinda natural to assume that this was kept in mind.

Re: maps.google.com now redirects to google.com/maps

#243

Post by WhyNotHugo »

godzillabrennus wrote: post #169
gjadi wrote: post #125

Earlier quoted context omitted.

If your threat is google, it would be wise not to use google in the first place. As other mentioned, OSM is an alternative (not equivalent) of Google Maps.

If only there was a drop in replacement for Google Workspace… even if you use Fastmail for email you don’t have Google docs anymore and that’s a huge piece…

You might want to check out:

https://framapad.org/abc/ (this organisation has a lot of FLOSS cloud alternatives to Google products)

https://cryptpad.fr/

Re: maps.google.com now redirects to google.com/maps

#244

Post by reacharavindh »

titzer wrote: post #228
nolok wrote: post #211

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This makes perfect sense product wise, if I'm searching "bakery" on my mobile phone I probably want the ones around me and not the generic location-agnostic google search of it, just like I would if I was searching on map. Matter of fact, this is actually something I do a couple times a month, search then clic the maps tab to see localized results then from them click the website result to find their webpage. As a te…

This is achievable with geolocation based on IP address, which is how it works on, e.g. a desktop web browser.

funny how that works. I never ever allow location access to anything Google or any website for that matter, and have a muscle memory to hit deny when the browser prompts me. The other day I was searching something and then clicking my bookmarked Google News and suddenly all news were UK specific, and my search results fro "heatpumps" were are UK companies and products.. I was confused until I noticed that my work VPN chose a UK endpoint because the NL one where I am had higher latencies. So, Google heavily tailors the results based on where it thinks you're at. Also, I was delighted to know that inspire all the tracking Google probably does on me, it was easily fooled to think I was in the UK :-)

Re: maps.google.com now redirects to google.com/maps

#245

Post by aembleton »

zuhsetaqi wrote: post #17
bdcp wrote: post #9

huh? You were always able to share sub-domain cookies with top-level domain cookies no? Set-Cookie: name=value; domain=google.com

Setting cookies doesn't allow using Browser APIs lie GEO-Location

Google Maps could have set your location in a cookie that is shared with google.com. Then search would have your location anyway when you next visit it.

Re: maps.google.com now redirects to google.com/maps

#246

Post by bogwog »

delroth wrote: post #226
hooby wrote: post #168

Earlier quoted context omitted.

1. The change does exist (although it apparently has been live for quite some time in some regions at least) 2. The change does have the effect of Google gaining more permissions (and subsequently more data) than previously 3. The author assumes that (2) is the (main) reason why (1) was done in the first place Regardless of whether (3) is correct or completely wrong - and regardless of whether the author truly believ…

> The change does have the effect of Google gaining more permissions (and subsequently more data) There's a huge logic gap here. Obtaining more permissions doesn't at all imply obtaining more data when it's caused by an incidental change. Maybe the permissions aren't being used outside of the Maps context, or maybe it doesn't matter because the data was already be known.

It’s true that we can’t really know whether Google is exploiting these expanded permissions to collect more data unless we have some insider information.

However, it’s generally very easy to predict what a company is going to do by observing their business model and incentive structure. In Google’s case, collecting as much data as possible is a major part of their business, so without more information, there’s no good reason to assume they won’t do it.

Re: maps.google.com now redirects to google.com/maps

#247

Post by garritfra »

__michaelg wrote: post #201
__michaelg wrote: post #126

This is a fantastic example of motivated reasoning. This "change" (which apparently isn't even new) can have so many different reasons, some of which are less harmful and some of which are probably worse (privacy-wise) than the one mentioned here. There is no indication that re/mis-using permissions is specifically what they wanted to do here, there is also no example of them doing it right now. Don't get me wrong, t…

Meta: my answer here is probably also a good example of motivated reasoning because I likely read a bit more into what the author wrote than is factually in the blog post. Oh boy.

> Oh boy.

Do you mind pointing out where you think this applies?

Re: maps.google.com now redirects to google.com/maps

#248

Post by zython »

__michaelg wrote: post #126

This is a fantastic example of motivated reasoning. This "change" (which apparently isn't even new) can have so many different reasons, some of which are less harmful and some of which are probably worse (privacy-wise) than the one mentioned here. There is no indication that re/mis-using permissions is specifically what they wanted to do here, there is also no example of them doing it right now. Don't get me wrong, t…

I will accept motivated reasoning when in a friendly setting but big tech is not my friend. Their only and only purpose is to extract as much value (data or money) from me as possible.

Looking at Heartbleed and other famous security we should know that minor mistakes "disguised" as "typos" can have devastating effects.

They know what theyre doing alright.

Re: maps.google.com now redirects to google.com/maps

#249

Post by dclowd9901 »

raziel2p wrote: post #110
jimlikeslimes wrote: post #104

Genuine question. Is it reasonable as a user to expect data collected by Google via maps.google.com to not be shared with other Google applications e.g. mail.google.com? I'd have thought data collected on any of their domains would be meshed/merged behind the scenes where it suits them to do so?

I think the concern is more about when Google is able to collect said data, not whether it's shared or not. I don't have location enabled for Google maps in the browser, but if I did, then presumably Google could collect that data also when I'm just searching for a website.

But isn’t collected/shared inherently the same thing here?

Re: maps.google.com now redirects to google.com/maps

#250

Post by Cthulhu_ »

coffeeblack wrote: post #233

This is actually something that browsers can mitigate. Allow users to give tracking permissions not only for subdomains, but also for paths. Deny: google.com/* Allow: google.com/flights Something like that.

Yeah but, the biggest browser is Chrome, by Google; they have an incentive to allow tracking and access across their services.
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