The amount of completely wrong, misleading, or openly deceitful 'facts' in this article is just staggering: This is all the data Facebook and Google have on you. theguardian.com/commentisfree/…
1: "Google knows where you’ve been"
Yes, that part is potentially questionable, especially when they are pulling it together from multiple Google services.
Yes, that part is potentially questionable, especially when they are pulling it together from multiple Google services.
2: "Google knows everything you’ve ever searched – and deleted"
This is how search works. They are using it to make search more relevant. But this is something you are doing 'on Google'. It's 100% consent based. ... oh and every publisher does this too. It's called analytics.
This is how search works. They are using it to make search more relevant. But this is something you are doing 'on Google'. It's 100% consent based. ... oh and every publisher does this too. It's called analytics.
3: "Google has an advertisement profile of you"
Yes ... which is way better than "every publisher is sending your activity to 3rd party partners who they have no control over who then build up a profile about you."
Yes ... which is way better than "every publisher is sending your activity to 3rd party partners who they have no control over who then build up a profile about you."
4: "Google knows all the apps you use [...] That means they know who you talk to on Facebook, what countries are you speaking with, what time you go to sleep."
No, Guardian. This is not how this works. Google doesn't know what you are doing inside the apps you use.
No, Guardian. This is not how this works. Google doesn't know what you are doing inside the apps you use.
5: "Google has all of your YouTube history"
Yes... again, this is called 'analytics'. Just as every publisher, like the Guardian, knows what articles you have looked at.
Yes... again, this is called 'analytics'. Just as every publisher, like the Guardian, knows what articles you have looked at.
6: "The data Google has on you can fill millions of Word documents [...] I’ve requested to download it and the file is 5.5GB big"
What you are talking about here isn't profiling data but the files, photos, and videos that you have specifically uploaded to Google's servers.
What you are talking about here isn't profiling data but the files, photos, and videos that you have specifically uploaded to Google's servers.
7: "Facebook has reams and reams of data on you, too [...] Mine was roughly 600MB, which is roughly 400,000 Word documents"
Again, almost all of these are the post, images, and videos you have chosen to post on Facebook. That can hardly be called a privacy problem!
Again, almost all of these are the post, images, and videos you have chosen to post on Facebook. That can hardly be called a privacy problem!
8: "Facebook stores everything from your stickers to your login location"
You are mixing concepts here. Stickers are something you have asked Facebook to remember so that you can use them again later. Login information is analytics (which you do as a publisher as well).
You are mixing concepts here. Stickers are something you have asked Facebook to remember so that you can use them again later. Login information is analytics (which you do as a publisher as well).
9: "They can access your webcam and microphone"
This is again a highly misleading way to report this. Obviously, if you have been using things like Google Hangout, it does that use your webcam and microphone ...but you are trying to pretend that they are doing some nefarious.
This is again a highly misleading way to report this. Obviously, if you have been using things like Google Hangout, it does that use your webcam and microphone ...but you are trying to pretend that they are doing some nefarious.
10: "Google knows which events you attended, and when"
Yes, if you use Google Calendar to manage your events, Google obviously knows which one it is. It's pretty hard to create a calendar app that didn't. I mean, how would you actually use that calendar?
Yes, if you use Google Calendar to manage your events, Google obviously knows which one it is. It's pretty hard to create a calendar app that didn't. I mean, how would you actually use that calendar?
11: "And Google has information you deleted"
Yes and no. When you use Google Drive, deleted files are kept in the 'Trash', so that you can get them back if you need it (same as the trashcan on your computer. But if empty your trash the files are gone (again, same as on your PC).
Yes and no. When you use Google Drive, deleted files are kept in the 'Trash', so that you can get them back if you need it (same as the trashcan on your computer. But if empty your trash the files are gone (again, same as on your PC).
12: "Google can know your workout routine"
Yes, if you are using Google Fit, Google obviously stores you Google Fit data ... I mean, seriously Guardian.
Yes, if you are using Google Fit, Google obviously stores you Google Fit data ... I mean, seriously Guardian.
13: "And they have years’ worth of photos"
Yes, if you are using Google Photos, they are obviously also storing all your photos. What do you want them to do... just delete your photos that you have uploaded to your Google Photos folder???
Yes, if you are using Google Photos, they are obviously also storing all your photos. What do you want them to do... just delete your photos that you have uploaded to your Google Photos folder???
14: "Google has every email you ever sent"
For f... sake. Yes ... you are using Gmail as your email client. Obviously, your email client contains your emails.
For f... sake. Yes ... you are using Gmail as your email client. Obviously, your email client contains your emails.
Seriously Guardian. This is not journalism ... I wouldn't even call it an opinion. This content only has one purpose which is to mislead and lie to your audience. How can I ever trust you again if this is what you post? Where is your journalistic integrity?
And before you argue that this is an 'opinion piece' and not produced by your 'news team', the Guardian has been promoting it, and do you really think it's acceptable to mislead your readers even if it is an opinion piece? What does that mean for me as a reader?
This has to stop
This has to stop
As I have said before, there are many genuine discussions to be had about privacy and data ... but articles like this one only serves to distract from the real issues.
Worse it that it polarizes your readers. Some people (those who don't know any better) get all outraged ... while all the people who do know about tech get angry at the poor journalism. Is that really the audience you want? What are you trying to do here?
[end of rant]
