Thread by @WolfieChristl

Google's "infamous 'Web & App Activity' controls for paid users of Google Workspace" is "split up into two settings" …HOWEVER, "Google is taking advantage of this settings split to re-enable some tracking features, even if users have previously opted out"
arstechnica.com/gadgets/2022/0…

"The crux of those earlier privacy lawsuits was that having privacy settings bizarrely split across two switches was unnecessarily confusing. Now, with Search History, privacy settings are split across three switches" 🤡

"Regarding the promise to not use data from 'Workspace core services', Google's statement doesn't cover Google Search ... which is the primary vector for Google ads and data for Google ads. That's right—the 'Search History' setting from Google doesn't cover Google Search history"

Tbh, I don't understand all those settings in detail, who does?

Anyway, never ever believe Google when it claims to "put you in control". Google has long been systematically exploiting 'choice' as a cover and basis for its multi-billion data business #choicearchitecture

We shouldn't let platforms with such a massive infrastructural power design 'choices' that affect billions.

Actually, we shouldn't even discuss whether those 'choices' do what they claim to do. Google settings exegesis just plays into their strategy of using 'choice' as a cover.

If we continue to allow them to use 'choice' to make billions subject to their business model, we need to mandate by law defaults and the exact wording+UI.

But we shouldn't. Utility-scale services must be banned from exploiting data for purposes other than providing the service.