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I was tracked by an abusive ex for months via my Google account. Location history allowed them to show up at places they knew I would be at, and they had access

I was tracked by an abusive ex for months via my Google account. Location history allowed them to show up at places they knew I would be at, and they had access to my email and who knows what else before I figured out what they were doing. If you're a dissident, a journalist[1] or a political party member[2], there are powerful people who might want to track or silence you. If you're the wrong type of minority in the wrong place at the wrong time, there are people who might want to put you in camps[3] or murder you[4]. A KGB-style surveillance apparatus that's used to better target ads can be abused by anyone with an agenda, no matter how petty their motivation is. [1] https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/worldviews/wp/2018/02/01/2017-was-the-most-dangerous-year-ever-for-journalists-2018-might-be-even-worse/?utm_term=.8e808c2ab5da https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/worldviews/wp/2018/02/01... [2] https://qz.com/1089384/the-communist-app-store-chinas-endless-apps-for-tracking-organizing-and-motivating-party-members/ https://qz.com/1089384/the-communist-app-store-chinas-endles... [3] https://www.reuters.com/investigates/special-report/muslims-camps-china/ https://www.reuters.com/investigates/special-report/muslims-... [4] http://time.com/chechnya-movsar/ http://time.com/chechnya-movsar/

filoleg 8y ago
How is it Google's fault that someone else had access to your account and (for all intents and purposes) impersonated you? If someone gets access to any of your important accounts on your behalf (which would include your primary email), you will have a lot of opportunities to get screwed over. Email access alone can be enough, in a lot of cases.
- fucking_tragedy 8y ago
  > How is it Google's fault that someone else had access to your account Please don't strawman my anecdote. I never said it was Google's fault. However, I did say that Google's surveillance system enabled a level of stalking that's never been this accessible to laymen and nation-states alike.
  - sridca 8y ago
    > I did say that Google's surveillance system enabled a level of stalking *Google's surveillance system in conjunction with irresponsibly giving one's account login to one's ex Fixed that for you.
    - deleted 8y ago
      [deleted]
    - fucking_tragedy 8y ago
      * Had a device stolen and password stolen either through spying or a key logger. Fixed that for you.
      - sridca 8y ago
        In which case, just what is the relevance of your report to kawfey's comment?
        fucking_tragedy 8y ago
        What was the point of sarcastically dismissing me by making up something that I never said? To answer your question, scroll up two posts, because I already answered it: > However, I did say that Google's surveillance system enabled a level of stalking that's never been this accessible to laymen and nation-states alike.
        sridca 8y ago
        I did notice what you wrote but you still do not see how you shift blame on to Google (despite careful use of the word "enabled") all the while conveniently ignoring key facts (device stolen, password stolen, etc.) that indicate personal responsibility. If someone stole the key to my house, and went on to steal important things, is it the fault of the company that makes the locks? Did the lock company "enable" the stealing to happen? But then blaming someone/ something else for what one is personally responsible for is as old as humanity.

filoleg 8y ago

How is it Google's fault that someone else had access to your account and (for all intents and purposes) impersonated you? If someone gets access to any of your important accounts on your behalf (which would include your primary email), you will have a lot of opportunities to get screwed over. Email access alone can be enough, in a lot of cases.

fucking_tragedy 8y ago
> How is it Google's fault that someone else had access to your account Please don't strawman my anecdote. I never said it was Google's fault. However, I did say that Google's surveillance system enabled a level of stalking that's never been this accessible to laymen and nation-states alike.
- sridca 8y ago
  > I did say that Google's surveillance system enabled a level of stalking *Google's surveillance system in conjunction with irresponsibly giving one's account login to one's ex Fixed that for you.
  - deleted 8y ago
    [deleted]
  - fucking_tragedy 8y ago
    * Had a device stolen and password stolen either through spying or a key logger. Fixed that for you.
    - sridca 8y ago
      In which case, just what is the relevance of your report to kawfey's comment?
      - fucking_tragedy 8y ago
        What was the point of sarcastically dismissing me by making up something that I never said? To answer your question, scroll up two posts, because I already answered it: > However, I did say that Google's surveillance system enabled a level of stalking that's never been this accessible to laymen and nation-states alike.
        sridca 8y ago
        I did notice what you wrote but you still do not see how you shift blame on to Google (despite careful use of the word "enabled") all the while conveniently ignoring key facts (device stolen, password stolen, etc.) that indicate personal responsibility. If someone stole the key to my house, and went on to steal important things, is it the fault of the company that makes the locks? Did the lock company "enable" the stealing to happen? But then blaming someone/ something else for what one is personally responsible for is as old as humanity.