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I don't fully understand that this comment is downvoted. He has a point there. We are all being tracked, just see your history [1] on the google website. It tr

I don't fully understand that this comment is downvoted. He has a point there. We are all being tracked, just see your history [1] on the google website. It tracks the websites you've visited, the video's you've watched, music I've played, things I've searched, App's I've used (Camera for example), directions I've searched (google maps), ads I've seen, cards in my feed (google now), my location history (actually very cool and very scary)... There are probably a LOT more metadata they have on me that I don't know I mean, they have a LOT of my data, they know probably more about me that I know about myself. Of course we aren't blocked for using any apps or viewing files, but they know that we are using and viewing the apps/files. I think it's in their best interests not to block anything, as this way they get a lot of information they otherwise would not get. You can compare the "my activity" with "Trace Viewer". It's just a matter of perspective. Don't get me wrong, I don't approve the NK way of blocking everything, but the tracking of the data happens in the West already too and we just "accept" it. [1] https://myactivity.google.com/myactivity https://myactivity.google.com/myactivity

dingaling 9y ago
The difference being that an informed Android user can disable all that logging, or at the very least prevent it being relayed to Google. I don't even have a Google account yet have four fully-functional Android devices nearby. The penalty for attempting that with the North Korean tablet is going to be rather more severe than "can't say OK Google to do a web search".
- Heliosmaster 9y ago
  I don't disagree with you, but i think that technically we're still trusting Google to not collect it anymore. I don't see it anything other than "Please google do not track this". Are we able to verify 100% that data is still not being collected?
  - Kluny 9y ago
    You use a packet sniffer to see all your local network traffic and make sure you can account for every request.
    - giancarlostoro 9y ago
      A really weird moment for me was when I took away the ability from my phone to access my microphone from all apps, and yet when I say "Ok Google" the "Google" App opens up and then tries to ask me for Microphone access. I'm running an LG G5 with all stock Android and updates installed. It's a little creepy that an app with no access to my Mic can ask for said access when I say something to my Mic. My guess is the "Ok Google" functionality is at the OS level and not at the App level.
      - DennisAleynikov 9y ago
        that's actually an optimization it seems, at the processor level there is a low power keyword listener for "Ok, Google" but it just fires the app it doesn't get anything more since you didn't grant it mic access. A much crazier permission is phone access on Android. I recently noticed Facebook's Messenger had been uploading my call logs without ever mentioning it to me. Only realized when it recommended I call a contact back despite me not using messenger to call them - it saw the call in the phone's history and matched it against its database.
tokenizerrr 9y ago
Keep in mind that you're comparing an oppressive regime with... android. The open source phone operating system. And you think this is a sensible comparison?
- quirkafleeg 9y ago
  He's comparing this device's tracking with Google's tracking. Why are you pretending you don't realise that?
  - tokenizerrr 9y ago
    There is a difference between opt in and getting yourself and your immediate family killed in the process of opting out. You can also install custom ROMs, or just use android without the google apps and not worry about any of this. You can do this in like an hour. If you're stuck in North Korea, there is damned little you can do other than get shot for sending a text message about it (if that is even possible). Which is what we should be discussing here.
    - quirkafleeg 9y ago
      So instead of a potentially interesting thread about this device, what it (supposedly) does, how it compares to tech or practices here, we should have another all-been-said-before-1000-times discussion re-stating the boringly obvious about how grim life is in NK?
      - tokenizerrr 9y ago
        This comment thread isn't about any kind of NK tech. It's another all-been-said-before-1000-times discussion re-stating the boringly obvious about how Google is evil.
- _pmf_ 9y ago
  We have a company that has liquidity that is measured in multiples of this country's GDP.
jpindar 9y ago
That site shows no activity for me (and I use an Android phone, Gmail, and other Google products all the time).
Veratyr 9y ago
He has a point but "So, basically Android?" is a bit over the top. Also note that unlike North Korean tablets, your own link has the "Delete Activity By" and "Activity Controls" tabs that allow you to remove collected data or disable its ongoing collection. Google gives you at least some measure of control, North Korea does not. As such I don't think these are really comparable.

dingaling 9y ago

The difference being that an informed Android user can disable all that logging, or at the very least prevent it being relayed to Google. I don't even have a Google account yet have four fully-functional Android devices nearby. The penalty for attempting that with the North Korean tablet is going to be rather more severe than "can't say OK Google to do a web search".

Heliosmaster 9y ago
I don't disagree with you, but i think that technically we're still trusting Google to not collect it anymore. I don't see it anything other than "Please google do not track this". Are we able to verify 100% that data is still not being collected?
- Kluny 9y ago
  You use a packet sniffer to see all your local network traffic and make sure you can account for every request.
  - giancarlostoro 9y ago
    A really weird moment for me was when I took away the ability from my phone to access my microphone from all apps, and yet when I say "Ok Google" the "Google" App opens up and then tries to ask me for Microphone access. I'm running an LG G5 with all stock Android and updates installed. It's a little creepy that an app with no access to my Mic can ask for said access when I say something to my Mic. My guess is the "Ok Google" functionality is at the OS level and not at the App level.
    - DennisAleynikov 9y ago
      that's actually an optimization it seems, at the processor level there is a low power keyword listener for "Ok, Google" but it just fires the app it doesn't get anything more since you didn't grant it mic access. A much crazier permission is phone access on Android. I recently noticed Facebook's Messenger had been uploading my call logs without ever mentioning it to me. Only realized when it recommended I call a contact back despite me not using messenger to call them - it saw the call in the phone's history and matched it against its database.

tokenizerrr 9y ago

Keep in mind that you're comparing an oppressive regime with... android. The open source phone operating system. And you think this is a sensible comparison?

quirkafleeg 9y ago
He's comparing this device's tracking with Google's tracking. Why are you pretending you don't realise that?
- tokenizerrr 9y ago
  There is a difference between opt in and getting yourself and your immediate family killed in the process of opting out. You can also install custom ROMs, or just use android without the google apps and not worry about any of this. You can do this in like an hour. If you're stuck in North Korea, there is damned little you can do other than get shot for sending a text message about it (if that is even possible). Which is what we should be discussing here.
  - quirkafleeg 9y ago
    So instead of a potentially interesting thread about this device, what it (supposedly) does, how it compares to tech or practices here, we should have another all-been-said-before-1000-times discussion re-stating the boringly obvious about how grim life is in NK?
    - tokenizerrr 9y ago
      This comment thread isn't about any kind of NK tech. It's another all-been-said-before-1000-times discussion re-stating the boringly obvious about how Google is evil.
_pmf_ 9y ago
We have a company that has liquidity that is measured in multiples of this country's GDP.

jpindar 9y ago

That site shows no activity for me (and I use an Android phone, Gmail, and other Google products all the time).

Veratyr 9y ago

He has a point but "So, basically Android?" is a bit over the top. Also note that unlike North Korean tablets, your own link has the "Delete Activity By" and "Activity Controls" tabs that allow you to remove collected data or disable its ongoing collection. Google gives you at least some measure of control, North Korea does not. As such I don't think these are really comparable.