Looks like Google is already trying to spin its way out of mounting criticism for its data practices including from publishers as Google tries to leverage its dominance and protect its business interests as GDPR rolls out. Let's examine how they spin it. reuters.com/article/us-alp… 
(1) Google didn't release its plans for GDPR until month 23 of 25 in the grace period. And in fact, they said they still didn't have a plan when they were likely postponing due to Cambridge Analytica attention on data. Anyway, WSJ reporter scooped Google and forced them public.
(2) most of what the guidance they're bragging about publishing was done last week after they reached out to me about the letter they knew was coming. It was likely a preemptive strike. No different than Facebook's post before Cambridge Analytica news broke. Control the news.
(3) when Google says they need to be a controller and use the data to "help publishers optimize ad revenue," this means *other* publishers. They take your data off your pages to make bank elsewhere. This includes on many garbage sites @slpng_giants regularly highlights.
(3b) this is the entire point, Google shouldn't have the ability to take data off Publisher A's website to go make $ on the rest of the web including its own inventory. Google is the market maker dominating entire ad stack and the leading inventory supplier. Such a problem.
(4) Finally, when Google says the “designation does not give us any additional rights to data” than afforded by its publisher contracts, lol. They're backing up our point they simply want to keep status quo. If GDPR doesn't impact Google's aggressive practices, we have issues.
(5) adding to this thread. @Wired also has a smart take (wired.com/story/are-goog…) on all of this including links to EU data supervisor @Buttarelli_G post yesterday. edps.europa.eu/press-publicat…
