The Cambridge Analytica scandal has all eyes on Facebook over privacy concerns — but people are starting to question how Google could be just as bad, if not worse.
A new report from the Wall Street Journal explains how Google gathers up user data — through apps, web browsing, and more — much like Facebook does.
Google reportedly tracks several data points for each user, including internet browsing and search history. Additionally, anything from your phone apps and your in-store purchases are tracked and recorded. And similarly to Facebook maintaining “shadow profiles” of people who have never even signed up for the platform, some believe a similar system is in place at Google.
Using what campaigners describe as “sinister surveillance” techniques, Google even stores the internet histories of people who believe they are protecting their privacy by using its supposedly “incognito” mode.
“Google, in every respect, collects more data [than Facebook],” said David Chavern, president of News Media Alliance, to Bloomberg last week.
According to the report, Google stores enough browsing data to fill 569,555 pages of A4 paper. That is enough paper that if stacked vertically, the tower would reach 189 feet high.
Google could easily be rocked by a scandal like Facebook’s, but any incoming responsive regulation is also likely to affect the search engine giant regardless, so there may not be a need to endure a replay of the last month to see the search firm’s privacy policies updated.
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We all know all the companies gather our personal data. The only concern is how secure it is. Let’s say the government ask for it for it or anyone trying to target you. Then we will question why was out information leaked to other sources. Like a cracked pipe that is never going to retain all its water. We all give out information and assume it’s secure but let’s be real and say nothing is secure now a days.
Leaks are not the only and really not even the primary problem. The FaceBook scandal wasn’t a leak. It was the data being used by a group that isn’t popular. That is, it was used by Trump, yet our own Justin Trudeau used similar techniques and similar data and no one said a word.
The problem is simply how much data these privacy invading companies collect. It’s not all companies. It is companies whose main business is data exploitation and collection that are the problem. Google and Facebook being the worst examples.
No. You’re vision is limited. It goes without saying we all expect security. The real question is what these companies are doing with our information and data.