Thread · 6 tweets · 21 Aug 2018

I am glad to see @DCNorg's “Google Data Collection” report. It provides a nice overview of Google's data collection practices which are worse than you think, even when you think they're bad. #GoogleDataCollection digitalcontentnext.org/blog/2018/08/2…

An Android phone with Chrome running in the background that is not being interacted with will send data home to Google on average 14 times every hour — or once every 4 minutes and change. #GoogleDataCollection

Two thirds of the data that Google collects about people is done passively, without the user themselves volunteering the information in any way. #GoogleDataCollection

On Android, if you turn off WiFi your location relative to WiFi signals is *still* being tracked and shared with Google. You need to switch Wifi scanning off separately. See below the event reporting to Google that the user is walking on foot. #GoogleDataCollection

This of course is all before you enter the world of online advertising, which spans most of the Web and apps (by usage). In typical use, Google gets information about you 90 times per hour — or once every 40 seconds. #GoogleDataCollection

None of this is inescapable. It works mostly because both Android and Chrome are deliberately designed not to offer any protection for user privacy. They act as data controllers independent of the user's agency; their sharing is subject to the #GDPR. #GoogleDataCollection (fin)