Surely it would be to Google's advantage to scan as much as they can in the background for targeting ads, even if they actual search is activated on demand.
So because Google is currently not taking the tiny step that would allow them to collect even more data (even though their business model is all about spying on people for all the data they can get), this somehow say anything about what their actions will be in the future? Just like how Google still has the "Don't be evil" slogan?
They promise[1] not to abuse the software that just happens to require hooking into the OS in such a way that they could spy on everything. Google's pattern has been to introduce products that people find useful, then log everything they can get access too once they have a large enough market share (usually taking advantage of the general ignorance about what can be done with the modern networked computer).
To suggest that somehow this time Google will act differently is to ignore the last decade of history and their publicly stated business plan.
[1] ...actually, I haven't seen such a promise, just people assuming so. Maybe I missed something.
What would it take to convince me? Proof (which shouldn't be too hard) that they're scraping apps without Now on Tap being invoked.
What would it take to convince you? Nothing. There is literally nothing anyone could say to convince you.
Which one of us has a position based on reason?
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And as to the "spying" thing...
If you find Google's tools useful, then use them. If you don't, then don't.
I get an email about my flight, and my hotel. Google Now pops up to let me know it's time to leave for the airport, and reminds me where I parked my car. When I get close to the airport, it lets me know my flight is delayed, so I take it easy. It tells me what gate my flight is leaving.
If you say it's "spying" on me to provide me that service...? You and I just flat-out disagree about what "spying" is.
If I had a secretary as useful as Google, I'd give that secretary praise and raises. Why, when it's a company providing software instead, do you automatically attribute malice to it?
Source code in all cases would be a good start. Earning a good reputation over time would be the real way. The fact that it is harder for Google to regain reputation is their problem, not mine.
> Proof
Gmail. google-analytics. Chromebook, Android and everything else Google has that specifically designed to send all your data to google under the guise of "cloud storage" and "single sign-on". I doubt you have somenow missed the last few years of drama over how much data Google collects.
> scraping apps
If you mean emulating the Tap behavior, that was clearly somethging I claimed they would eventually do. You seem to think this behavior will continue into the future, contrary to everything else Google does.
> There is literally nothing anyone could say to convince you.
Projection and/or lies. See above.
> Which one of us has a position based on reason?
Using someone's record as a heuristic about their future behavior isn't based on reason? Do you also get angry with people who stop going to a particular store after being ripped off or sold a lemon?
I'm guessing Now on Tap doesn't scan content, until you activate it.