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I am genuinely horrified to see how much data google collected from me

I created a google takeout and in that zip file I found some files containing a ton of data about me. It has logged every single page I visited while using the google search engine and chrome browser. It even logged every single time I opened an app on my old android phone. It even has VOICE RECORDINGS of me and a log of every time I used google assistant. This is just some of the data and I'm very sure there is even more data they have.

generalpotato ,

Google has a data privacy setting that lets you delete your data history at some intervals. The lowest is 3 months last I checked. Make sure to use it.

DangerousInternet ,
@DangerousInternet@lemmy.world avatar

[Thread, post or comment was deleted by the author]

    •
    generalpotato ,

    Ideally you should, but a lot people use Android or want to use Google services. An as example, if you use Google Maps, then you have to opt in to giving Google location access and Google will collect your data. In that case, the least you can do is limit the amount of time Google keeps your data and change from the default setting which I think is forever.

    someguy3 ,

    So that would delete all the information that OP listed above?

    generalpotato ,

    Yes. You can select what to delete and what to retain if I recall correctly. It’s grouped by “activities”, by app if you will.

    delirious_owl , (edited )
    @delirious_owl@discuss.online avatar

    How do you do this?

    I have a few dozen google accounts, but most of them I'm locked out of. Even if I enter the correct username and password on the first try, google says I can't login because I never associated a phone number to the account.

    How can I get this data?

    qaz ,

    Probably a GDPR data request

    Flumpkin ,

    Hmm, wouldn't that make it worse? Because then you have to give your real name, no?

    ChairmanMeow ,

    As if Google doesn't already know.

    qaz , (edited )

    No, most sites have a button stashed in some submenu of the account page that allows you to request your data. It’s either a legal requirement of the GDPR or they just don’t want to deals with individual email requests, I’m not exactly sure.

    It usually does take a lot of time for the request to be “processed”, you usually get an email with a zip archive after about a week. I’m not sure if that’s malicious compliance.

    You can also send a GDPR request to have them delete all your data, but they do have 1 month to comply and in my experience most services do take that long to “process” your request.

    Keep in mind that many services hide these options for non-EU citizens.

    Tywele ,

    takeout.google.com

    blindsight ,

    That only works if you can log in. Otherwise, it would be a massive privacy problem since anyone could takeout anyone's data.

    delirious_owl ,
    @delirious_owl@discuss.online avatar

    That tells me to login

    Fisch ,
    @Fisch@lemmy.ml avatar

    Have the same issue on one of my accounts. I can login but when I try to do anything, I need to verify by getting a code over SMS. The thing is, the phone number on that account is an old one I don't have access to anymore. There is no other verification option, I can't delete it from my account without verification and I'm definitely not adding my actual number.

    BRBWaffles ,
    @BRBWaffles@lemmy.world avatar

    I rarely interact in any meaningful way with anything in Google's ecosystem these days. I'm still tied by a couple little whispy threads, but nothing serious. I'm running GrapheneOS with no Google apps, switched my email to Proton, switched to Firefox, search with Brave, use a NAS for cloud storage, and browse YouTube anonymously with NewPipe. Occasionally I'll get an email on one of my old Gmail addresses, but other than that I feel like I've sufficiently deGoogled enough to feel safe.

    frostysauce ,

    What do you do for maps/navigation?

    BRBWaffles ,
    @BRBWaffles@lemmy.world avatar

    OsmAnd and Organic Maps. They're both not as good as Google Maps. But at least when I use them Google doesn't get to know that I traveled 15km across town to fuck a Tinder thot and buy bread.

    kenopsik ,

    Username checks out

    Jayhosh ,

    This! I genuinely love my phone now that's never happened before.

    Etterra ,

    I gave up caring years ago when I realized it was way too late to undo it all. If Google really cares that I'm a gamer then oh well, at least my ad blockers work just fine and I use Firefox so that's good enough.

    glasgitarrewelt ,

    It is never too late. Free yourself from this abusive relationship, it feels fantastic.

    Coreidan ,

    Free yourself from what exactly? I think you’d be surprised at how much everything else is tracking you still.

    All for what, avoiding ads you’ll get anyway?

    glasgitarrewelt ,

    Legitimate question. Targeted ads feel obvious to many, but it is more about control.

    • Google knows more about you than your partner or you yourself know about you. And they know how to use that knowledge. The scariest part: this control over you is for sale.
    • Google controls how you use things. By being the defacto standard in so many things, they have the power to control how things look, feel and are beeing used. We are missing a lot of innovation because of that.
    • Google can basically decide, which business survives and which doesn't. It's not the one with the better product, it is the one which pays more money to Google. By that it helps to promote big companies, small businesses have a hard time to establish themselves. Even in my small citiy: if the new barber doesn't pay for Google placement and begs for useless 5-star-ratings, he won't survive.
    • It is hard to get out! You are getting lulled in with convenience and you unlearn how to use the internet outside of Google. Google takes prisoners and puts them in a plushy cell.

    I think you’d be surprised at how much everything else is tracking you still.

    You are absolutely right, I am surprised again and again. But I do my best to avoid it, if I find something that tracks me. And I am surprised that so many people let themselves being exploited, and even defend this exploitation.

    Free yourself! It is work. But it is worth it. And it is not too late.

    hirad ,

    One thing people seem to forget is that even though Google is a real enemy of privacy, it’s far from the worst company.
    Companies like Google collect and use your data. While there are many companies that collect data only to sell them to any customer they might have.

    badelf ,

    I've started using Kagi search. $5/mo for a great search without selling my sh1t.

    trippingonthewire ,

    I just deleted my google account. Bye YouTube comments.

    sidgames5 OP ,
    @sidgames5@lemmy.zip avatar

    I wish I could just delete it. I'm still figuring out things with nextcloud and I run a youtube channel so I can't do that yet.

    Pepsi ,
    @Pepsi@kbin.social avatar

    If the only reason you’re keeping it is to make and post YouTube videos, it doesn’t sound like you wish you could delete it.

    fromthenorth ,
    @fromthenorth@techhub.social avatar

    @sidgames5 @trippingonthewire Is there a more privacy-friendly option (non-data siphoning) for video hosting?

    delirious_owl ,
    @delirious_owl@discuss.online avatar

    Peer Tube

    trippingonthewire ,

    You could create an Odysee channel perhaps, and try to migrate there. Then you're supporting competition.

    Omega_Haxors ,

    You're really not missing out. I swear 90% of the youtube comments I end up getting are from hardcore nazis.

    Fisch ,
    @Fisch@lemmy.ml avatar

    Wish I could do that too but my email is still tied to some accounts where I can't change it

    trippingonthewire ,

    You can't change the email you use? Are you open to deleting those accounts, and maybe making new ones? Or saying goodbye to those platform's for good? Customer service could help you change emails, perhaps.

    TankovayaDiviziya ,

    How do you know all this? Did you request your data from Google?

    dez ,
    @dez@lemmy.ml avatar

    takeout.google.com

    TankovayaDiviziya ,

    Thank you. I will trawl through 18 years of my Google account.

    Baleine ,
    @Baleine@jlai.lu avatar

    Omg I shoul do that too

    Scolding0513 ,

    this is such a good post. everyone who wants to learn about privacy should do a google takeout FIRST. to get hit with a huge epiphany

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