That's a tough one. When I started using Google services, I knew they were siphoning my data and using it personally and as a group to do machine-learny things

That's a tough one. When I started using Google services, I knew they were siphoning my data and using it personally and as a group to do machine-learny things. TANSTAAFL. I made that choice voluntarily, knowing they weren't going to be upfront about it. I also made $8.35/hr at a crummy job when I made that decision. I couldn't afford the services Google offered for free from anywhere else. These days, I'm working as a competent sysad, making appropriate pay. Now, I can afford for-pay services that can supplant various googly-eyed services. But now, my problem is different: how do I know non-google company doing X that I pay for isn't also making similar deals with advert companies? How do I know my data is private? Obviously, Google is a SPOF in many ways. I don't like that. But the converse is to pay individual companies for service, and hope they're better than Google with respect to service, privacy, and ethics. But those are awfully nebulous to gauge.