back to article Google: I know we promised not to mix our data silos buuuut...

The European Commission has confirmed that it will probe competition concerns over Google's decision to allow personal user data in its silos to co-mingle, to create "super profiles". Until last June, Google explicitly stated that behavioural data from its giant DoubleClick ad network would not be merged with a user's Google …

  1. ratfox
    Paris Hilton

    Oracle?

    Oracle is doing advertising? Who knew?

    1. Dan 55 Silver badge

      Re: Oracle?

      Tony Stark.

      Well the boss of SpaceX wasn't going to go to AWS I suppose.

    2. razorfishsl

      Re: Oracle?

      oracle does databases......

      if you cannot see what is going on better to stick with your facebook profile.

      1. Dan 55 Silver badge

        Re: Oracle?

        Oracle are complaining because Google doesn't use their database?

        Oracle are complaining because other advertisers don't use their database?

        Oracle are throwing shit at a fan to see what sticks?

  2. Buzzword

    SMS logs?!

    Does Google's Android scan your text messages and feed the information back to its advertising arm?!

    1. Chris G

      Re: SMS logs?!

      It certaiy sounds that way!

      Regarding the cosiness between Obama and Google, I wonder what job offers the ex- pres is considering?

    2. Anonymous Coward
      Anonymous Coward

      "Google's Android scan your text messages"

      Concur, sounds like Google is merging data from Android cellphones. That is, unless someone with Google+ / Hangouts or other service, can confirm that there's also an SMS service there...??? BTW: Google is also slurping juicy medical data, and perhaps lots more we're only dimly aware of. The data monster continues its onslaught...

      1. Dan 55 Silver badge

        Re: "Google's Android scan your text messages"

        Play Services and Play Store also want SMS access. So I suppose between all those apps they've got it covered.

  3. Mikel

    Relevance

    So, Google is trying their best to provide me with information more relevant to my interests?

    The horror. /s

    1. Anonymous Coward
      Anonymous Coward

      'Google is trying their best to provide me with information more relevant'

      Snore! Go and read some articles on 'Surveillance Capitalism' genius!

    2. Eddy Ito

      Re: Relevance

      Yes they want to deliver a personalized internet echo chamber for each of us so we're as out of touch with the world as the cast of La La Land and the folks who live in Silly Con Valley. What could go wrong?

    3. Chemical Bob
      Terminator

      Re: Relevance

      "So, Google is trying their best to provide me with information more relevant to my interests?"

      No, they're crawling up your ass in an attempt to make more money.

    4. Daggerchild Silver badge

      Re: Relevance

      That line won't fly. But it's worth pointing out that AI assistants needs an even larger pot of melded data in order to give a *particular* person the answer *they* are looking for.

      Which mapping engine did it consult? Which product recommendation engine did it use? Which third party specialist systems were consulted and now know you were seeking such data?

    5. Oengus

      Re: Relevance

      So, Google is trying their best to provide me with information more relevant to my interests?

      The horror. /s

      We desperately need a Sarcasm icon.

  4. Anonymous Coward
    Anonymous Coward

    Android 'Access My Location slyly getting re-enabled

    Settings->Location Access -> Access My Location -> [GPS Satellites +wi-fi ticked]

    Question:

    Anyone know how to bork 'Access My Location' permanently or render the underlying services stone dead? All possible 'usual suspects' apps / services are already disabled, so curious how is this still happening...??? But it wasn't happening 6 months ago. (No apps are installed! The phone data plan is only used for emergencies using built-in Chrome etc..).

    1. Anonymous Coward
      Anonymous Coward

      Re: Android 'Access My Location slyly getting re-enabled

      > Anyone know how to bork 'Access My Location' permanently or render the underlying services stone dead?

      Disable Service.

      It needs root (it won't do much without root) and be careful which Location Services you disable. If you disable everything brute force Google Play Store and other Google Apps will refuse to work.

      1. Anonymous Coward
        Anonymous Coward

        "be careful which Location Services you disable."

        ~ Thanks for the advice. From day one I disabled Google-Play and all Google apps except the keyboard which you can't do without it seems.

        ~ But 'root' is a problem as I don't know which ROM I need to Flash it, and I don't want to bork the whole phone etc...

        ~ So I was hoping there was a simpler way to permanently disable Location Services from getting toggled on.

        ~ The only apps that I ever let run are Android System + a few sparse services, Google Keyboard, Contact, Camera and occasionally Chrome...

        ~ Yet something is still activating Location Access at mysterious times...

      2. Anonymous Coward
        Anonymous Coward

        Follow-up

        Just to add.. Phone uses Android 4.2.2 ... 'Location Access' is being enabled just by making a phone call. Don't remember this happening a year ago. It occurs even if every 'running app' has been killed off except Settings & Google keyboard (which has no disable option). Can't find any posts on the net about this issue either which is bad!

        1. Anonymous Coward
          Anonymous Coward

          Re: Follow-up

          3C Toolbox Pro

          It needs root. The tool can tell you which apps require Location Services, and you can disable it. It is also a potentially dangerous tool - you can easily brick your phone by tweaking the wrong thing.

          Rooting your phone depends on model and make, and if it is rootable or not. For some phones you can search for, and find exploits at xda-developers. Some other phones are not rootable unless you rebuild the kernel yourself taking advantage of a known vulnerability. On some phones that requires unlocking the bootloader, flashing the new kernel and then re-locking the bootloader.

          Flashing your own kernel can also brick the phone.

          For Android 4.2.2 I'm guessing it's more likely to find an exploit at xda-developers that gives you root. Unlike more recent versions of Android which have gotten better at plugging root exploits, which makes them harder to root.

          1. Anonymous Coward
            Anonymous Coward

            Re: Follow-up

            @ST

            Many thanks!

  5. Zog_but_not_the_first
    Big Brother

    When...

    Will these Eurocrats realise that we're not citizens, but corporate property? Roll on Brexit. /s

  6. Ian Michael Gumby

    So... how do you opt-out?

    I may use Google Search, however what if I don't have a google account?

    How do I tell Google I don't want to opt-in and let them co-mingle any private data?

    What privacy settings do I have?

    Time for Google to be declared a monopoly.

    BTW, I wonder why Andrew or any of the El Reg reporters never talked about why they use Google Analytics when they could provide the same stats on their own. ;-)

    1. Anonymous Coward
      Anonymous Coward

      Re: So... how do you opt-out?

      Even if you don't have an account, after a while Google will show you a "privacy settings" box, and won't let you use its service until you agree with its terms. You may disable some of the tracking - albeit the UI is designed to discourage you (just a step behind the "click x to install" of Windows 10) and make it as confusing as they can.

      If it doesn't appear, you already have some Google cookies set - don't know if settings can be verified and changed without an account. You may delete the cookies, and the box will appear again.

  7. Daggerchild Silver badge
    Mushroom

    Birds of a feather, defecate on things together.

    Wonder if Mr Ellison is cheerfully sidling up to Mr Trump, complimenting him on the size of his yachts, and tax avoidance schemes, and how very much they have in common.

    Obama/Google, meet Trump/Oracle.

    1. peterbr

      Re: Birds of a feather, defecate on things together.

      Has already happened, Oracle's CFO is on Trumps team

  8. peterbr

    Anything to do with Oracle's CFO being on Trumps team now?

  9. sjiveson

    SMS Collection

    So, I thought I'd checkout the privacy policy for Google Messenger (the SMS app) to see if they are collecting anything SMS related. Good luck working that out - bastards: https://www.google.com/policies/privacy/.

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