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Google’s new popup will further weaken Facebook’s advertisement business

thebigtech.substack.com

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Re: Google’s new popup will further weaken Facebook’s advertisement business

#181

Post by mortehu »

speeder wrote: post #5

Whenever I read articles like this, I get more and more horrified. I mean, I know that adtech spy on us a lot, but I didn't knew for example that using Bluetooth while the app is shut down was possible. Makes me very wary even of dumbphones, for example I bought a dumbphone recently, and yet it came with Facebook and Google Assistant both pre-installed.

Bluetooth scanning is actually considered a location privilege on Android already. You see lots of angry reviews on apps for accessing Bluetooth devices saying "this app has no business accessing my location", not realizing the contradiction. Maybe they're breaking it out to avoid this confusion?

Re: Google’s new popup will further weaken Facebook’s advertisement business

#182

Post by j_koreth »

ggggtez wrote: post #174
Supermancho wrote: post #169

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> The reason is to hurt you I'm not sure how this reasoning works. Some company making money using your information isn't with intent to hurt an individual, generally speaking. It's rare that such an opportunity even exists.

My data is worth money, that's why they want it. If they take it from me without permission, how is that not stealing? And then isn't stealing obviously hurting me? Just because you don't know how much your data is worth, and may not even know the crime happened, doesn't make it not a crime or not harmful. Consider voyeurs who take upskirt photos. Even though the victim may never know that data was stolen, it's unden…

Isn't it disingenuous to say it's stealing? From my perspective, I would be exchanging my data with the services provided and if I have a problem with the level of data collection I can always stop using the service and delete my account. I'm sure there are services today that are useful to me that are not possible without data monetization.

Re: Google’s new popup will further weaken Facebook’s advertisement business

#183

Post by bo1024 »

QuadmasterXLII wrote: post #117
realusername wrote: post #43

Earlier quoted context omitted.

There's a reason everybody wants you to install their app instead of just using their website, there's much more opportunity of tracking.

To hurt you. The reason is to hurt you and it's unfortunate that we're in denial about it.

I think "exploit" is more accurate than "hurt" here.

Re: Google’s new popup will further weaken Facebook’s advertisement business

#184

Post by amusedcyclist »

Supermancho wrote: post #169
QuadmasterXLII wrote: post #117

Earlier quoted context omitted.

To hurt you. The reason is to hurt you and it's unfortunate that we're in denial about it.

> The reason is to hurt you I'm not sure how this reasoning works. Some company making money using your information isn't with intent to hurt an individual, generally speaking. It's rare that such an opportunity even exists.

The hyperbole against adtech on hackernews is insane. I swear most people here think its the biggest problem that the world faces.

Re: Google’s new popup will further weaken Facebook’s advertisement business

#185

Post by riversflow »

amusedcyclist wrote: post #184
Supermancho wrote: post #169

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> The reason is to hurt you I'm not sure how this reasoning works. Some company making money using your information isn't with intent to hurt an individual, generally speaking. It's rare that such an opportunity even exists.

The hyperbole against adtech on hackernews is insane. I swear most people here think its the biggest problem that the world faces.

I mean, it arguably drives the out-of-control materialism that is currently devastating the environment. Not sure it’s hyperbole.

Re: Google’s new popup will further weaken Facebook’s advertisement business

#186

Post by MonaroVXR »

ladyanita22 wrote: post #88
toast0 wrote: post #85

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Microsoft actually had a winning formula. Make cheap phones that work alright. And they were getting market share with later wp7 and throughout wp8. Between wp8 and WM10, they merged the phone team with the regular OS team, and eliminated (or at least gutted) their QA teams, and they decided to target the high end market only . There were no low spec WM10 phones, and there hadn't been many high end buyers anyway, so…

Yeah, Microsoft had an exceptional OS that was competitive to iOS (and much better than Android) on its foundations and APIs. It had everything needed to succeed and get a big chunk of the market, except for a clear leadership. Now, here we are, with extremely powerful Android phones that do little because they don't have a solid software foundation with which to build good software, an iOS has all the high-quality s…

There are some differences between Android phone, so it's difficult to judge if you don't list the right one.

Re: Google’s new popup will further weaken Facebook’s advertisement business

#187

Post by zzo38computer »

2Gkashmiri wrote: post #13

What is the point of "broad" location? Cant this be deducted from your cellular network? Wouldnt that save the trouble of keeping your GPS completly off ? I saw on some new android phones something called "privacy features" which would mean not giving access to contacts for example. The problem is all apps know you are using this feature and they nag you to turn it off. Whats the point then? How I want the thing to b…

> How I want the thing to be, "oh, the contacts permission is given but nothing here. Oh well. ". Same for location and SMS and other stuff.

Yes, that is a good idea. The user could also program in more elaborate filters, e.g. to expose a subset of contacts data, random data instead of the actual data, spoofed locations, etc. Also can be distinguish read-only or read/write, etc. (If the user does not have all of these elaborate options and more, then the app writer might realize what is happening and then might program it to complain if there is nothing there. Also, such options can be helpful for testing purpose as well as for user customizability, too.)

(I don't use the cell phone, but nevertheless such thing like you mentioned can be good idea.)

Re: Google’s new popup will further weaken Facebook’s advertisement business

#188

Post by swiley »

speeder wrote: post #5

Whenever I read articles like this, I get more and more horrified. I mean, I know that adtech spy on us a lot, but I didn't knew for example that using Bluetooth while the app is shut down was possible. Makes me very wary even of dumbphones, for example I bought a dumbphone recently, and yet it came with Facebook and Google Assistant both pre-installed.

You have to go full FOSS and run debian on a pinephone.

Re: Google’s new popup will further weaken Facebook’s advertisement business

#189

Post by ineedasername »

I'm not a big facebook user, but I suppose this is good for the privacy-minded that do use facebook. However, it seems hypocritical of Google to grant greater control to users over the data that 3rd party apps can obtain but practically none over what users can control in the Android & Chrome ecosystem.

Re: Google’s new popup will further weaken Facebook’s advertisement business

#190

Post by lumost »

j_koreth wrote: post #182
ggggtez wrote: post #174

Earlier quoted context omitted.

My data is worth money, that's why they want it. If they take it from me without permission, how is that not stealing? And then isn't stealing obviously hurting me? Just because you don't know how much your data is worth, and may not even know the crime happened, doesn't make it not a crime or not harmful. Consider voyeurs who take upskirt photos. Even though the victim may never know that data was stolen, it's unden…

Isn't it disingenuous to say it's stealing? From my perspective, I would be exchanging my data with the services provided and if I have a problem with the level of data collection I can always stop using the service and delete my account. I'm sure there are services today that are useful to me that are not possible without data monetization.

It's a question of degree, I don't inherently mind being advertised too or getting targeted advertisements. I do mind having my entire location history known by many parties.

I can get the former largely without the latter. I am concerned when a random app has access to the latter because they feel entitled to collect it by virtue of installation.

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