HN screams bloody murder when Google grabs location data without being clear about it. But I see nothing critical iin this thread (yet) of the idea of Google providing this service? So confused.
If Google grabs location data without clear warnings, explicit opt-ins, or an easily ability to opt-out that is immoral.
Contrast that with something like Fi where the fact it is a Google run cellphone network is front and center, so to sign up active consent is very much required.
People just want a choice. Nobody is forcing anyone to use Fi, but people feel like they cannot escape Google's privacy violations in other areas.
I disagree. Many consumers who will be interested in this service will not be educated enough about the relevant issues to give “active consent”.
That’s like saying, FB has told consumers it is using their data in exchange for the use of FB, so it’s open season on that data set.
As a community that understands many of the implications of Google having this relationship with consumers, in addition to those relationships made possible by Google’s other products, I would expect for HN readers to sound the alarm at least a little.
If Google has your transit info (maps + Waymo) and your email, and your browsing (chrome + cookies), and your financial (purchased through brokers and banks + wallet), and knowledge about your relationships (email and photo analysis), and lord knows what else, you’re gonna sit here and tell me “if people sign up for it that’s their choice”..?
Google is building a censored search engine for China. Think about that.
Think about that. Seriously.
Their effin mission statement is “to organize the world’s information and make it universally accessible and useful”.
The same company that is censoring information, in direct conflict with their own mission statement, and thereby empowering authoritarian governments now has alllllll that data about you.
No one can know what will happen when you give a corporation that much insight into and control of your life. No one can give active consent.
If Google grabs location data without clear warnings, explicit opt-ins, or an easily ability to opt-out that is immoral.
Contrast that with something like Fi where the fact it is a Google run cellphone network is front and center, so to sign up active consent is very much required.
People just want a choice. Nobody is forcing anyone to use Fi, but people feel like they cannot escape Google's privacy violations in other areas.