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Google Maps Dark Pattern: Enable Web Activity to Set a Home Address

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Re: Google Maps Dark Pattern: Enable Web Activity to Set a Home Address

#11

Post by rhn_mk1 »

Akinato wrote: post #9

Yup. I turned off web activity and my home/work checkpoints disappeared. I always thought that was incredibly scummy and it's what made me really start questioning the amount of power I was giving Google, if this is how they're using it. I've been slowly separating myself from their ecosystem. Another example is how Google doesn't let you turn off the stupid notifications for Google Assistant / Voice without complete…

> My phone already broadcasts a GPS

You really must mean something else, as the only devices broadcasting GPS that I know about are the GPS satellites and DGPS base stations.

Re: Google Maps Dark Pattern: Enable Web Activity to Set a Home Address

#12

Post by mnm1 »

Yup. Switched to Waze partly because of this. I'm sure they collect the data regardless and Waze is still owned by Google but at least in theory, it should not collect data. Without laws against it, what's to stop Google from collecting the data whether or not you agree to it? Nothing.

Re: Google Maps Dark Pattern: Enable Web Activity to Set a Home Address

#13

Post by kgwxd »

bluetidepro wrote: post #7

This isn't a thing on iOS. Can someone explain more what "Web & App Activity" means on Android? I don't have an Android device so I don't fully get what permission that is asking? Is it a common one other apps need? Like maybe it's a case of bad specific permissions and they have to ask for that even though they wish they didn't have to do something that generic? I know I've seen that before for like Github apps, for…

It's a Google account setting, not an app permission.

Re: Google Maps Dark Pattern: Enable Web Activity to Set a Home Address

#14

Post by [deleted] »

mnm1 wrote: post #12

Yup. Switched to Waze partly because of this. I'm sure they collect the data regardless and Waze is still owned by Google but at least in theory, it should not collect data. Without laws against it, what's to stop Google from collecting the data whether or not you agree to it? Nothing.

[deleted]

Re: Google Maps Dark Pattern: Enable Web Activity to Set a Home Address

#15

Post by dTal »

bluetidepro wrote: post #8
dTal wrote: post #6

To me the biggest Google Maps dark pattern is "no GPS for you unless you consent to share your location with us at all times". It was this that persuaded me to excise Google apps from my phone forever. It drove me crazy seeing the little satellite icon, and the network connection, permanently active. No feature is worth your corporate ankle bracelet, thank you very much.

Weird... on iOS you can do "While Using" in the location privacy settings so it only uses your location when the app is in use (instead of the "Always" option). It's a bummer that the Android version requires it at all times.

Well, you can always switch GPS off. But then nothing can use GPS.

Really, it's an Android sin. You're prompted to agree to the analytics in Android's settings, when you enable GPS. Maps is just the vector through which Android collects the actual data.

Re: Google Maps Dark Pattern: Enable Web Activity to Set a Home Address

#16

Post by lenomad »

bluetidepro wrote: post #7

This isn't a thing on iOS. Can someone explain more what "Web & App Activity" means on Android? I don't have an Android device so I don't fully get what permission that is asking? Is it a common one other apps need? Like maybe it's a case of bad specific permissions and they have to ask for that even though they wish they didn't have to do something that generic? I know I've seen that before for like Github apps, for…

Web & App Activity is basically the collection of each of your interaction with Google that was recorded. It includes the list of all websites you visited while logged in, the time that you opened any app on your Android phone, the locations that you've visited etc.

It's a pretty scary list when you first see it and can be viewed/managed at https://myactivity.google.com

Re: Google Maps Dark Pattern: Enable Web Activity to Set a Home Address

#17

Post by lenomad »

Marsymars wrote: post #2

Yes, they made this change some years back. (2013, maybe?) Used to work just fine. Still works fine for driving mode on the Android app for some reason. So I've just been typing out a location close to my home address for the past five years.

I had seen this before, but then it stopped appearing. Turns out I had been lured into turning web activity back on somehow.
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