Australia Finds Google Misled Users Over Data Collection

Australia's federal court found that Google misled users about personal location data collected through Android mobile devices between 2017 and 2018, the country's competition regulator said Friday. From a report: The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) -- which launched legal proceedings against Google in 2019 -- said the ruling was an "important victory for consumers" with regard to the protection of online privacy. Google misled Android users into thinking the search giant could collect personal data only if the "location history" setting was on, the ACCC said. The court found that Google could still collect, store and use personally identifiable location data if the setting for "web and application activity" was on -- even if "location history" was turned off. "This is an important victory for consumers, especially anyone concerned about their privacy online, as the Court's decision sends a strong message to Google and others that big businesses must not mislead their customers," ACCC Chair Rod Sims said in a statement.

Shocker

[PDiddly]

Australia Finds Google Misled Users Over Data Collection.

I bet that took a crack team of investigator!

Re:Shocker

[AmiMoJo]

The issue is that if you turn off location history on your phone, Google still gets some location history data from other sources like searches or use of Google Maps.

That was confusing for consumers who would have assumed that turning off location history disabled all historic location data storage with Google.

Sad

[Teun]

It's just sad you can't use applications like a doorbell or thermostat without being followed, either by the OS like here or by the app like in the story about Amazon.
We really need an OS OS.

No way

[JustAnotherOldGuy]

ShockedFace.gif