Google tracking your every move.

Google is also able to track the internet sites we visit too it seems.

I always remember to hide from Google when I visit websites I don't want them to know about. It is pretty straightforward to not use Google for these websites; duckduckgo is a good alternative. If I really want hide my online activity, I use Tor. This requires a little expertise, but this makes it impossible even for my ISP to see what I am viewing.

There are two things that are more creepy about having my location tracked.

Number one, I don't often think about it and there is a good chance I won't even think to turn it off when I am doing something I don't want them to know about.

Number two, to me, tracking in real life (where I am actually going) is more personal then tracking what websites I am visiting.

If you ever decide to rob a bank, remember to turn off location services. Better yet, leave your cellphone at home.

https://www.theverge.com/2016/6/1/11824118/google-android-location-data-police-warrants

Ever since I first got an Android phone (about 5 years ago) I have been leery of using the GPS location feature unless I really need it, e.g. want to use Maps or a speedometer app in a train, etc. That was because on my first smartphone, using GPS ran the battery quicker. Even now I have a much better modern phone, I leave GPS off unless I need it. That way, Google uses cell-tower triangulation, which can be off by miles in rural areas, and even in a city can be off by half a mile.

To be quite sure, turn the phone off, and make a crude Faraday cage by wrapping it in a couple of layers of cooking foil (like your hat?) and you'll drop right out of sight.

On mine it says Location Services need to be on in the background, and they are not. So my track doesn't exist. This was on my iPhone so now I'll have try try in on a computer and see what it says.

On my Android phone it was on by default. It took me a couple of years to realize what it was doing. I bet a whole lot of people are being tracked without realizing it.

I appreciate Google keeping up with me, helps me Google more easily. I just wish Facebook and Google would merge so all that would be integrated.

This will really tweak the conspiracy folks, but I'd be all for the chip in the hand thing. No more messing with debit cards or drivers licenses, just wave your hand and bam...done.

I'm not breaking any laws or doing anything wrong, so I've got nothing to hide if they wanna watch me.

Yep. I think you've got it!

The Google data could even serve as an alabi if you were falsely accused of something.

They appreciate you too. You aren't a customer of Google. You are the product. They are making quite a nice profit selling you to the highest bidder. They are in the business of selling information about you; they now know what you like, what you do with your time, the people you know and the places you visit.

If this doesn't bother you, fine. You are making them happy and rich.



This is a stupid argument. It isn't just about breaking laws (and whether you are breaking laws or not isn't up to you, it is up to a prosecutor). Privacy is a basic human right and need.

Do you want to have political opinions without fearing consequences? Do you want to own a gun, or have extra-marital sex, or oppose Black Lives Matter, or support Black Lives Matter, or use Tinder... I don't know about you, but I want to control information about me.

There is nothing illegal about my political views, or my medical history, or the fact that I like to play poker... but I don't want any of this information to get to perspective employers, or the woman I met on Tinder, or my ex-wife's attorney.

The way I look at it... data about me belongs to me. I can choose to give it away (as I sometimes do).

But it is increasingly important to me to know who is getting my data, who they will share it with, and how they are going to use it. The fact that google was collecting, storing, and using detailed location data about me without my knowledge is a little creepy.

I personally am not going to turn it off forever. But I am going to be mindful that it exists and remember to turn it off next time I spend the night with my ex-wife's best friend or go to my militant pacifist action meeting.

Is that where you position your index finger a centimeter from your sister's eye, and petulantly whine "I'm not touching you!" ?

That's awfully optimistic. Isn't it far more likely to be used as evidence against you for a crime you didn't commit?

I don't know if location data would even be a very good alibi... since it would be pretty easy to fake it (e.g. place your cellphone in someone's car for an evening without their knowledge).

Militant pacifism is where you beat people up for their violence. You just beat them up peacefully.

Not exactly. It's information, so they can sell you to the highest bidder AND the lowest bidder, and everything in between.

I'm not sure why you are up in arms about my lack of worries about what Google does with the fact I just went to the grocery store (and looked up a recipe for alfredo sauce while I was there).

You can turn it on or off, doesn't matter to me.

I use Google a lot, they are a useful resource in my day to day life. If I'm to pay for that service by them knowing when I do a search of alfredo sauce then so be it.

I guess what I'm saying is I think it's a good deal...for me. Maybe you don't feel like it's such a good deal. That's okay!

They also know everyone that you are sleeping with. It isn't just alfredo sauce.

Well, that's just one person, so not very interesting. Maybe it's useful?

I have nothing to hide or that I really care if some computer algorithm is keeping up with. Hell, I don't even care if some guy in India is watching my browsing while I'm browsing. I can only imagine what he's thinking about our discussion now!

I am not saying that you shouldn't use the services they provide. I am saying that you are giving Google access into some pretty intimate parts of your life. Think of what someone who can scan your email and calendar, see all your searches, and know everywhere you have been and with whom you have spent time, knows about you.

Give me this information and I know a lot about your political beliefs, your interests, who you associate with, your medical issues, your vices and character flaws.

You are right, you get some benefits in exchange. You get free email and calendar and searches.

But unless you live a truly boring life with no vices, no uncomfortable beliefs, or relationships or associations... I think that taking the time to understand exactly what information you are sharing with Google (and whoever pays Google).

I am only saying that it is a good idea to understand these things and make conscious decisions about what information you are giving up.

I am surely boring to searchers. Wrong, of course.