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Ask HN: Why does Google need to log 99% of what I do on my Android phone?
Every detail and bit of use is logged in my Google account (apps used, how many times they were used, timestamps of use, URL's visited, every place I visited, ect...). I know location data was a definite expectation as I've seen maps of where I've been in the past but this seems insanely excessive, not to mention that it also knows what Google notifications I've dismissed.
- Jeremy1026 8y agoThey don't "need" to, but they can use all that data to build a better profile on you and thus sell advertisers better targeting.
- corporateslaver 8y agoThe AI NEEDS DATASETS
- pirato 8y agoThey track you because it's their business model. More data about you means better personalized advertisements and thus more money for google.
- navjack27 8y agoI wish that made sense to me. Advertisements. I allow Google to literally everything. I use everything they have. I don't block ads but I also never click them. I swear ad money is just like a cryptocoin at this point. Well, it's like the concept of money, all these businesses agree that they are worth value. It's a bubble that should pop soon.
- bausshf 8y agoGoogle doesn't care if you click the ads. They have already been paid by the time it's shown. They're paid to deliver ads to specific user groups, which are paid for in advanced by said companies that are advertised.
- inamberclad 8y agoSeems like a lot of Google products have gone from being universally useful to only being useful when you buy into the ecosystem. I've noticed that in the past year or so, my video suggestions on youtube have been terrible (totally off topic, things I've already watched, ect...). I have a hunch that it's because I have youtube's history features turned off. I'm going to turn them back on just to see if the applications get more useful.
- navjack27 8y agoYup. I'm all in on Google and every single aspect of my UX with their products is great. Very useful. No strange "creepyness". I've also never experienced any downsides to living this way.
- sunseb 8y agoYeah I would love to use a smartphone that doesn't require to have an account! It's simply not possible with iOS or Android as you need an account if you want to download apps. Also I would love a smartphone that doesn't come with many preinstalled apps I don't need.
- navjack27 8y agoPay for an account that isn't Google? Yes, you're logged, yes, you have a free account, yes you can disable a good deal of it in your account settings. It's not just on your phone either. Ubuntu has OS analytics Windows 10 has very detailed OS analytics Android has a fair bit for the OS You've confused a couple things. Your subject says phone but the body of your text just talks about using Google services and websites. It's not just Google that knows this stuff, if they won't be the ones that knows it someone else will. OS level analytics are a good thing. Games have a fair bit of data that goes to the devs on phones and PCs. Free online accounts it should just be a given that stuff is happening with your data.
- bbennett36 8y agoIts not only google lol Check the permissions for all your apps :)
- xy12 8y agoBusiness and legal reasons. Primarily business reasons.