I’ve got a sister in law who implicitly TRUSTS Google and how they say that they handle handle privacy and personal information. Articles and information saying that Google is collecting and selling your private data are absolute lies and no documentation or examples showing otherwise are to be believed.
She’s an extreme example but most people I know don’t think that data mining is either going on or that there are negative consequences to them even if it is. And a majority of people will choose a cheaper product even if told that they will be monitored and personal data about them will be sold because they isn’t a little window that pops up and says I just sold company ‘X’ this information about you, your health, or your family and you don’t have any say in where it goes or how it’s used.
The problem is your statement is only 1/2 true.
> Google is collecting
Yes. Google absolutely collects everything and anything they can. NOBODY should be deluded into believing otherwise. It's their very business model.
>selling your private data
This is the absolute lie. Google Does NOT sell data. This myth has been repeated ad nauseam. There has been no evidence, nor capability for Google to sell private data. This is not only something that would destroy their business (since their business IS using the data), but would violate laws in numerous countries they operate. Canada would outright ban Google for selling private data as that is illegal here. GPDR would also ban them in EU as you cannot sell private data.
What Google does with that data is analytics to sell advertising space to your eyeballs using that data. this is a significantly different thing. Now, whether or not you trust google to maintain your data is a personal option. Good on you for being proactive in caring. We should all know who has, and uses our data and what uses those are for.
But lets actually be factual and not spread FUD and myths based on a lack of evidence just because it fits your own narrative. Many of us do use google services because we have some level of trust that they will keep that data secure. That is no different than you having trust that Apple will also keep the data it collects secure (Because Apple does collect data, just for different use cases)