Category: Google

Google is called out in a lawsuit about the practices it used to profit from collecting end user location data over the span of years while deceiving about it. source: https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/technology/google-deceived-consumers-about-how-it-profits-from-their-location-data-attorneys-general-allege-in-lawsuits/ar-AAT5ADk archived source: https://wellthissucks.xyz/2022/01/24/google-deceived-consumers-about-how-it-profits-from-their-location-data-archived-source/

Concerns raised by privacy advocates got fueled by reports of Google home devices recording audio even when they are not actively used. source: https://www.techtimes.com/articles/262271/20210701/google-ai-assistant-records-company-admits.htm archived source: https://wellthissucks.xyz/2021/07/01/google-assistant-records-audio-even-when-youre-not-using-it-archived-source/

It was found that Google pushed the installation of software to end user’s Android smartphones without their consent. This example shows that Android Smartphones with the default Google Play services are not really in the control of the user as the company has the power to remotely install and uninstall software as they please. source: […]

It is well known that Google makes a large part of it’s profit via ad revenue, but court documents reveal that they company also used anti competitive tactics to position themselves against other players in the advertisement business. source: https://www.theverge.com/2021/4/11/22378296/google-secret-project-bernanke-ad-buying-competitors-texas archived source: https://wellthissucks.xyz/2021/04/11/google-boosted-its-own-ad-buying-system-over-competitors-archived-source/

By claiming to introduce new improved technologies Google aims to push their new AMP web framework but in truth the main gain from it is to play into Google’s ad revenue business. source: https://tutanota.com/blog/posts/amp-email-bad-idea/ archived source: https://wellthissucks.xyz/2021/01/08/googles-amp-is-not-made-to-improve-speed-but-ad-revenue-archived-source/

Although smartphone users have the option to disable app activity tracking in the device’s system settings it was found that Google ignores these settings and continues to track the user’s app activity nonetheless. source: https://www.reuters.com/article/idUSKCN24F2N4 archived source: https://wellthissucks.xyz/2020/07/14/google-continues-to-track-users-despite-opt-out-in-settings-archived-source/

When consumers obtained Google’s Nest Secure IoT devices there was no statement about microphones within the device. Google announced now the activation of microphones in the product series via a software update, not only proving the existence of the hidden listening device within the product but also the company’s perception about privacy. source: https://www.csoonline.com/article/3336227/nest-secure-had-a-secret-microphone-can-now-be-a-google-assistant.html archived […]

Google is not only operating a business which is based on the collecting and processing of extensive amounts of data from internet users but the company is also involved with US intelligence agencies, aiding in government sanctioned surveillance programs. source: https://www.theguardian.com/news/2018/dec/20/googles-earth-how-the-tech-giant-is-helping-the-state-spy-on-us archived source: https://wellthissucks.xyz/2018/12/20/google-is-involved-in-the-us-government-surveillance-programs-archived-source/