On November 27, 2018 the Norwegian Consumer Council filed a complaint against Google. Based on a new study, Google is accused of using deceptive design and misleading information to manipulate its users.
More particularly, Google is accused of tracking users through “Location History” and “Web & App Activity”, which are settings integrated into all Google accounts.
For the users with Android software, such as Samsung and Huawei smartphones users, it is extremely difficult to avoid this tracking.
According to the complaint, some of the techniques used by Google to push the users to share their location are:
Deceptive click-flow: The click-flow when setting up an Android device pushes users into enabling “Location History” without being aware of it. This contradicts legal obligations to ask for informed and freely given consent.
Hidden default settings: When setting up a Google account, the Web & App activity settings are hidden behind extra clicks and enabled by default..
Repeated nudging: Users are repeatedly asked to turn on “Location History” when using different Google services even if they decided against this feature when setting up their phone.
Google’s intention is to elicit users’ consent, so that users agree on being constantly tracked, thus revealing very important aspects of their personalities! Which are these aspects?
What does Google know exactly? Does Google know, for example, if you are in your living room, your bedroom or even your toilet? How many times per minute does it track you? When you take a cigarette break at work is Google there with you? Does Google know when you are on a date? Does it know your religious beliefs? Your health history? Learn more about all these in the official video by the Norwegian Consumer Council. More information can be found here.