An API provided by a preinstalled extension called "hangout_services" in Chromium browsers is quietly sending information about users' CPU and GPU usage to Google when visiting Google...
Indeed. I’m trying to figure out how “quietly” makes any sense in that headline. Google has been very public about what they’re doing, and has usually published their proposed actions months in advance of actually taking them.
It probably is intended to indicate that Google’s software doesn’t have a notice anywhere it’s sending this data that a normal human could reasonably find.
There’s a lot of ‘Data we collect’ stuff on sites and software now, and I’m entirely sure I’ve never seen this on any browser using Google’s code for this.
This also says “chromium browsers”, so maybe people who are using some other one than actual Google Chrome have not known and/or not been told of the collection happening.
Google to users: “I’M GOING TO STEAL ALL YOUR INFORMATION!”
Google: steals users information
Users: shocked pikachu face
Indeed. I’m trying to figure out how “quietly” makes any sense in that headline. Google has been very public about what they’re doing, and has usually published their proposed actions months in advance of actually taking them.
It probably is intended to indicate that Google’s software doesn’t have a notice anywhere it’s sending this data that a normal human could reasonably find.
There’s a lot of ‘Data we collect’ stuff on sites and software now, and I’m entirely sure I’ve never seen this on any browser using Google’s code for this.
This also says “chromium browsers”, so maybe people who are using some other one than actual Google Chrome have not known and/or not been told of the collection happening.
Yeah, I’m entirely sure it’s upstream of Chrome proper, and kinda consolidates my opinion that anything Google is near should be treated as suspect.
Cut it all off!!
well besides spytube… can’t really cut that off yet…
I would hope Google free Chromium doesn’t but who knows.