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Google's CEO Thinks Android Users Know How Much Their Phones Are Tracking Them (techcrunch.com)
An anonymous reader quotes a report from TechCrunch: Google CEO Sundar Pichai thinks Android users have a good understanding of the volume of data Google collects on them, when they agree to use the Android mobile operating system. The exec, who is testifying today in front of the House Judiciary committee for a hearing entitled "Transparency & Accountability: Examining Google and its Data Collection, Use and Filtering Practices," claimed that users are in control of the information Google has on them. "For Google services, you have a choice of what information is collected, and we make it transparent," Pichai said in response to questioning from Chairman of the House Judiciary Committee Rep. Bob Goodlatte (R-VA).
Google's defense on the data collection front is similar to Facebook's -- that is, Pichai responded that Google provides tools that put users in control. But do they actually use them? "It's really important for us that average users are able to understand it," said Pichai, stating that users do understand the user agreement for Android OS. "We actually ... remind users to do a privacy checkup, and we make it very obvious every month. In fact, in the last 28 days, 160 million users went to their My Account settings, where they can clearly see what information we have -- we actually show it back to them. We give clear toggles, by category, where they can decide whether that information is collected, stored, or -- more importantly -- if they decide to stop using it, we work hard to make it possible for users to take their data with them," he said. When asked if Google could improve its user dashboard and tools to better teach people how to protect their privacy, including turning off data collection and location tracking, Pichai said "there's complexity," but it is "something I do think we can do better." He continued: "We want to simplify it, and make it easier for average users to navigate these settings. It's something we are working on."
Google's defense on the data collection front is similar to Facebook's -- that is, Pichai responded that Google provides tools that put users in control. But do they actually use them? "It's really important for us that average users are able to understand it," said Pichai, stating that users do understand the user agreement for Android OS. "We actually ... remind users to do a privacy checkup, and we make it very obvious every month. In fact, in the last 28 days, 160 million users went to their My Account settings, where they can clearly see what information we have -- we actually show it back to them. We give clear toggles, by category, where they can decide whether that information is collected, stored, or -- more importantly -- if they decide to stop using it, we work hard to make it possible for users to take their data with them," he said. When asked if Google could improve its user dashboard and tools to better teach people how to protect their privacy, including turning off data collection and location tracking, Pichai said "there's complexity," but it is "something I do think we can do better." He continued: "We want to simplify it, and make it easier for average users to navigate these settings. It's something we are working on."
And rape victims know they are raped. What's your point?
Doesn't mean they are OK with it! Or that they have much of a choice!
(No, if it means you're a social outcast, you don't have a choice.)
This completely, and I think deliberately, distracts from the real discussion.
That Google is evil for doing the snooping and peeping, and even worse, for arrogantly even acting like it's alright.
When it should, if most people had a say, probably actually be a crime resulting in life in prison for him, just for offering it for sale... even if the terms and conditions (read: code, incomprehensible to humans) say they do it.
They might not care, but the CEO saying "users have a good understanding of the volume of data Google collects on them" is wrong and misleading.
Slashdot, fix the reply notifications... You won't get away with it...
We want to simplify it, and make it easier for average users to navigate these settings. It's something we are working on.
They could start by calling location history 'location history'.
As a Princeton computer scientist and former chief technologist for the Federal Communications Commission's enforcement bureau said: “If you're going to allow users to turn off something called ‘location history’, then all the places where you maintain location history should be turned off. That seems like a pretty straightforward position to have.”
I don't think the average user knows how much, but I also think the average user doesn't care enough to go find out. However, I don't believe that is any fault on Google's part. Without getting into whether Google should collect as much as it does, what it collects and where to find it is available as long as the user actually pays attention and/or cares to find it. They're not hiding it.
Sure there's lots of controls... but probably not a very convenient global "off" switch nor any way to set the default for new options. At least that's been my impression with other data mining products and services, not giving you the choice at all would be bad PR but it's a game of attrition and you're often asked for broad or permanent permissions when you'd really like to make a narrow exception. Google doesn't really want to make opt-out easy and effective, but as the CEO you can't say that out loud. You have to pretend that they are in control and use their lack of altering the defaults as permission, it probably works in the legal sense because it was buried down in an EULA but if you actually started reading the logs back at them I think a lot more people would be concerned.
Live today, because you never know what tomorrow brings
Regardless of what he believes, that's what he's going to tell the committee. It's not like he's going to tell them, "We believe the average user has no idea how much information we're squirrelling away. We're essentially committing fraud here."
Google CEO Sundar Pichai thinks Android users have a good understanding of the volume of data Google collects on them,
Android users are people, and the vast majority of people have jobs outside IT. Normal people don't even know the difference between 2G, 3G and 4G except that the higher numbers mean "faster". They also couldn't list the sensors that their phone contains, and barely understand what information the OS has available at all. They know that GPS has something to do with maps, but that's it. They are almost certainly not aware that their phone is constantly doing data transfers in the background nor do they have any idea what data is being exchanged.
This is just the other version of the usual "blame the user" bullshit. We blame the user for being stupid and making mistakes, then we turn around and blame the user for knowing everything so its not our fault, again. Can't have it both ways.
Assorted stuff I do sometimes: Lemuria.org
“But the plans were on display”
“On display? I eventually had to go down to the cellar to find them.”
“That’s the display department.”
“With a flashlight.”
“Ah, well, the lights had probably gone.”
“So had the stairs.”
“But look, you found the notice, didn’t you?”
“Yes,” said Arthur, “yes I did. It was on display in the bottom of a locked filing cabinet stuck in a disused lavatory with a sign on the door saying ‘Beware of the Leopard.”