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Google Chrome just rolled out a new way to track you and serve ads

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Re: Google Chrome just rolled out a new way to track you and serve ads

#401
post #387

Earlier quoted context omitted.

>Do you really want the government controlling how you access information? You've already given that power to corporations, and corporations have far fewer regulations on actually performing said control (as in they are able to control you far more). You are so deep into Reganomics "government is bad, corporations are good" that you don't realize these large (near) monopoly status corporations are effectively their o…

It’s not reagonomics it’s just the opposite. Whatever party you align yourself with, just think of the power the other party would use to stifle speech that they don’t agree with. I have a lot more power not to use Chrome or Android than not to be under the rule of a hostile government. Whether it’s the religious right who are in control of one party or Tipper Gore going after rap music in the other party, do you rea…

> I have a lot more power not to use Chrome or Android than not to be under the rule of a hostile government

Yeah, you can choose between Google or Apple. Hooray.

It's practically impossible to avoid Google if you value having a social life. Enough people have tried.

> Reagonomics was about thinking the government is incompetent. I think the government is hostile.

Oh yeah great, so it's even worse than Reaganomics.

At least a government csn be kept in check by a construction and can be changed by elections.

On the other hand, corporations have no obligations towards you at all. It's the entire point of private enterprise that they can do what they want and don't owe any responsibility.

Re: Google Chrome just rolled out a new way to track you and serve ads

#402

> Tracking technology can arguably benefit us as well. For example, it could be helpful if an online store reminds you every three months you need a new toothbrush, or that this time last year you bought a birthday card for your mum. fuck off

Honestly, one of the most brilliant comments I've read in a while, and a perfect use of some "swear" words. I am not kidding.

Upvoted, of course. You summed up everything we have to say about it in just two words, in perhaps the best possible way.

Re: Google Chrome just rolled out a new way to track you and serve ads

#403
post #401

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It’s not reagonomics it’s just the opposite. Whatever party you align yourself with, just think of the power the other party would use to stifle speech that they don’t agree with. I have a lot more power not to use Chrome or Android than not to be under the rule of a hostile government. Whether it’s the religious right who are in control of one party or Tipper Gore going after rap music in the other party, do you rea…

> I have a lot more power not to use Chrome or Android than not to be under the rule of a hostile government Yeah, you can choose between Google or Apple. Hooray. It's practically impossible to avoid Google if you value having a social life. Enough people have tried. > Reagonomics was about thinking the government is incompetent. I think the government is hostile. Oh yeah great, so it's even worse than Reaganomics. A…

> At least a government csn be kept in check by a construction and can be changed by elections.

That’s cute in theory. But the way that the electoral college is designed, the Senate with two votes, gerrymandering etc that doesn’t work out too well in practice.

Democracy works fine if you’re in the majority - well not actually see all of the caveats above - but that doesn’t work if you are in the minority - any type of minority.

> It's the entire point of private enterprise that they can do what they want and don't owe any responsibility.

I could argue the same about law enforcement, imminent domain, civil forfeiture, and getting harassed because I “look suspicious”

Re: Google Chrome just rolled out a new way to track you and serve ads

#404
post #400

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It’s not reagonomics it’s just the opposite. Whatever party you align yourself with, just think of the power the other party would use to stifle speech that they don’t agree with. I have a lot more power not to use Chrome or Android than not to be under the rule of a hostile government. Whether it’s the religious right who are in control of one party or Tipper Gore going after rap music in the other party, do you rea…

If you don't petition your government to prevent monopolies, then you have just as little choice being under hostile companies. Of course I'm sure you think having the choice of Apple rather than Android completely makes up for this. Enriching these large companies will ensure you live under a hostile government too. Once they are big enough to rent seek, they become the primary lobbying power, and you're back in the…

So instead I should let the government be in control? Without bringing in my own viewpoints. Just think about how the “other” party that you disagree with can and will abuse any power you give it.

> Once they are big enough to rent seek, they become the primary lobbying power, and you're back in the exact same position of being under a hostile government.

Can any of the corporations with power put people in jail or confiscate your property for disagreeing with them? Can they get you fired for teaching something that is “too woke”. Did you not see what the governor of Florida did with Disney because they had the nerve to disagree with him?

Are you really okay with giving government that power?

Show me the steps that would need to happen for Google to harass me for walking down the street because I don’t look like I belong in my own neighborhood.

Re: Google Chrome just rolled out a new way to track you and serve ads

#405

Earlier quoted context omitted.

>3. All services that you don’t pay for you are the product. I certainly don't feel like I am the product when I use Wikipedia.

As they advertise to you for their latest fundraiser… Do you think large corporations will donate to support Chrome developers who get paid at the level of Google employees? People aren’t willing to donate to support Firefox. It’s funding mostly comes from Google.

I mean promoting a fundraiser still doesn't seem to make me a product, and Wikipedia is still pretty solvent regardless. Another example might be Linux software repositories.

Re: Google Chrome just rolled out a new way to track you and serve ads

#406

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Chrome Mobile is the largest reason I would not recommend an Android (specifically Pixel) device to friends or family. I bought one, and I found myself actively avoiding browsing the web on it. Even after installing Firefox you can’t get rid of the Google Chrome web search bar on the home screen, and in-app web views are Chrome, so you’re never really free from Chrome. I do understand the why of ads, and I’m okay wit…

That's why I use grapheneos. The only 'feature' I've lost is the ability to use the device to pay at card terminals.

Also Chromecast doesn't work. But these are okay tradeoffs with okay alternatives, so the improved security and privacy is well worth it to me.

Re: Google Chrome just rolled out a new way to track you and serve ads

#407
post #311
post #289

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I've been using Android since the G1. I don't think I've ever had the search bar on the home screen for more than a couple minutes after getting a new phone. My in-app web views are also in Firefox. I'm pretty sure just changing the default browser changes this, though there may be a second setting I'm forgetting about. This is actually my main sticking point on refusing to try iOs. You can't even install Firefox on…

The search bar on the home screen referenced by OP is a Pixel launcher exclusive, which is the default installed launcher on Pixel devices. You can't remove it. You can install an third-party launcher however. You can also use a widget provided by a browser app to put a search bar on the homescreen (all major browsers have such an option). For the most part, my webviews are in FF (selected as my default browser), but…

I was wrong about the web views, I didn’t realize they updated because it seems like app developers can choose to use specific web views instead of the system one.

Also wrong about the launcher, I’m relatively new to Android and hadn’t seen any settings for it.

Re: Google Chrome just rolled out a new way to track you and serve ads

#408

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Chrome Mobile is the largest reason I would not recommend an Android (specifically Pixel) device to friends or family. I bought one, and I found myself actively avoiding browsing the web on it. Even after installing Firefox you can’t get rid of the Google Chrome web search bar on the home screen, and in-app web views are Chrome, so you’re never really free from Chrome. I do understand the why of ads, and I’m okay wit…

> Chrome Mobile is the largest reason I would not recommend an Android (specifically Pixel) device to friends or family. [...] Even after installing Firefox you can’t get rid of the Google Chrome web search bar on the home screen, and in-app web views are Chrome, so you’re never really free from Chrome. Meanwhile, on pretty much the only competition, you can't even install a different browser, they're all just reskin…

Firefox on Android with adblockers is better than Safari with adblockers, but since Safari supports adblockers easily I would recommend it to family and friends over Chrome which doesn’t.

I have been corrected on removing the launcher and how web views work in this thread.

Re: Google Chrome just rolled out a new way to track you and serve ads

#409

Earlier quoted context omitted.

True, and Safari is my default browser too. But, IIRC Google pays Apple >30x what it pays Mozilla for keeping their search engine as a default. https://9to5mac.com/2021/08/25/analysts-google-to-pay-apple-...

Good point, That said I think Firefox is a little more dependent on that revenue than Apple.

Yup, of course

Re: Google Chrome just rolled out a new way to track you and serve ads

#410
post #400

Earlier quoted context omitted.

If you don't petition your government to prevent monopolies, then you have just as little choice being under hostile companies. Of course I'm sure you think having the choice of Apple rather than Android completely makes up for this. Enriching these large companies will ensure you live under a hostile government too. Once they are big enough to rent seek, they become the primary lobbying power, and you're back in the…

So instead I should let the government be in control? Without bringing in my own viewpoints. Just think about how the “other” party that you disagree with can and will abuse any power you give it. > Once they are big enough to rent seek, they become the primary lobbying power, and you're back in the exact same position of being under a hostile government. Can any of the corporations with power put people in jail or c…

Lets move from the street to 'private spaces'

You attempt to go to your local grocery store. They use 'Google Identity' which they are perfectly allowed to as a private business. You are accused of sending spam by Google (who the hells knows why, they never explain anything) and you are barred access.

Being the staunch libertarian you are, you leap over the public roadway afraid of catching communism if you touch it and go to the grocery store across the road. It turns out they are using 'Amazon Identity' and via an information sharing agreement with Google (private businesses can share information about you, right?), and you're also denied access to that store.

You'll go to another store, right.... Oops, turned out after we got rid of monopoly laws there are only two different stores in your community after consolidation of the industry. Luckily for you there is a toll road that you can take a 30 minute drive to another place that uses a different set of identifiers to let you in.

We busted monopolies and company stores years ago because businesses harassed and murdered people left and right!. Have you forgot the history of the Pinkertons, or are you just blindly ignorant of that part of US history?

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