Tuesday, August 14, 2018

Google is still tracking us (yawn!)

It seems like the world has only just come to terms with the sheer amount data that Google records on us using its Location History feature. This is in order to "deliver better results and recommendations on Google products", from traffic predictions to shopping suggestions to regionalized search results to the grouping of photos by location, and I have to say it does a pretty good job of it. It is also why so many apps that we download and use ask for permission for the app to use Location History.
If you think this is an egregious infringement of your privacy then you can always opt out by going to Settings > Google > Location > Google Location History, and switching it off (this is in addition to switching off Location Services, which is the map-pin icon usually accessed from the top pull-down menu of your phone, or from Settings > Google > Location. But bear in mind that Google usual excellent artificial intelligence on what it is you are looking for is likely to be compromised. Me, I have nothing particularly to hide, and I feel like I am able to resist any advertising Google throws at me, unless I actually want it.
Now, however, it has become clear that, even with Location History switched off, Goyogle is still tracking our movements to some extent, in their never-ceasing quest to make us happy, and this has elicited more outrage from privacy people. It does this whenever a website or app associated with a person's Google account (e.g. Google Maps, weather widgets, fitness trackers, etc, on both Android and iOS phones) asks for location data. It does this through a service called Web and App Activity, which operates completely independently of Location History.
Because this is enabled by default, some people are crying foul (partly because, if you did go and turn of Location History, Google's message did not mention the fact that Web and App Activity was also tracking your every move.
But this too can be turned off it you really want, by going to Settings > Google > Google Account > Data & Personalization > Data and App Activity, and turn it off from there. It's a bit convoluted, but it can be done. Again, expect some diminution in Google's service if you want to go down this route.
Is this a major infringement.of our civil rights? Probably not, although different people have different comfort levels. When.all's said and done, though, Google is not a charity, and if you want to use its services, you have to pay for them in some way. Maybe you'd prefer a monthly charge?

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