Google's Privacy violating: Now they're getting pretty blatant about it
March 7, 2012 9:14 AM Subscribe
According to that new Google privacy policy, are they allowed to sell AdSense ads to advertisers based on what they have read in your Gmail?
I just got a very disturbing targeted AdSense ad, which in my paranoia I feel they only could have chosen to put up on my web browser screen if they've been reading my Gmail. The ad did not pop up on a Gmail screen, which would have made some sense and I am used to that by now, I guess. It was while I was browsing some other blog.
I just got a very disturbing targeted AdSense ad, which in my paranoia I feel they only could have chosen to put up on my web browser screen if they've been reading my Gmail. The ad did not pop up on a Gmail screen, which would have made some sense and I am used to that by now, I guess. It was while I was browsing some other blog.
Haven't they been doing this for some time? Isn't that really, from Google's standpoint, the whole reason to give out free email?
posted by mkultra at 10:32 AM on March 7, 2012 [3 favorites]
posted by mkultra at 10:32 AM on March 7, 2012 [3 favorites]
Just use a fake name.
posted by the man of twists and turns at 10:50 AM on March 7, 2012
posted by the man of twists and turns at 10:50 AM on March 7, 2012
If you block ads this is a non-issue, at least to the extent that you don't see any ads. It doesn't change the fact that Google is analyzing your every move on their web properties.
posted by COD at 11:10 AM on March 7, 2012
posted by COD at 11:10 AM on March 7, 2012
Response by poster: I've done some investigating, it seems as if I can only opt-out on a PER-BROWSER PER-COOKIE basis ------ and the next time I open a web browser, ads and tracking cookies are back.
Then I found a more permanent "Keep My Opt-Outs" PLUGIN --- but for that I need to INSTALL GOOGLE CHROME.
Like Lando Calrissian said, this deal keeps getting worse all the time.
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Keep My Opt-Outs is an extension for users who aren’t comfortable with personalization of the ads they see on the web. It’s a one-step, persistent opt-out of personalized advertising and related data tracking performed by companies adopting the industry privacy standards for online advertising.
Some things you should know:
* In spite of the standard Chrome permission warnings you may see when you install this extension, we do not track or keep any records related to websites you may visit.
posted by shipbreaker at 11:19 AM on March 7, 2012
Then I found a more permanent "Keep My Opt-Outs" PLUGIN --- but for that I need to INSTALL GOOGLE CHROME.
Like Lando Calrissian said, this deal keeps getting worse all the time.
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Keep My Opt-Outs is an extension for users who aren’t comfortable with personalization of the ads they see on the web. It’s a one-step, persistent opt-out of personalized advertising and related data tracking performed by companies adopting the industry privacy standards for online advertising.
Some things you should know:
* In spite of the standard Chrome permission warnings you may see when you install this extension, we do not track or keep any records related to websites you may visit.
posted by shipbreaker at 11:19 AM on March 7, 2012
and the next time I open a web browser, ads and tracking cookies are back.
This should not be true for the link that zsazsa posted.
The short answer to your question is yes, although to be clear the targeting happens entirely inside Google --- the advertisers don't know who you are and your data is not sent to them. They just buy a block of ads targeted at a demo and if you're in that demo the ad is displayed to you when the request comes in to Google.
Gmail ads have been targeted based on your email for a long time.
posted by wildcrdj at 12:03 PM on March 7, 2012 [1 favorite]
This should not be true for the link that zsazsa posted.
The short answer to your question is yes, although to be clear the targeting happens entirely inside Google --- the advertisers don't know who you are and your data is not sent to them. They just buy a block of ads targeted at a demo and if you're in that demo the ad is displayed to you when the request comes in to Google.
Gmail ads have been targeted based on your email for a long time.
posted by wildcrdj at 12:03 PM on March 7, 2012 [1 favorite]
(oh, but if you have a different extension that wipes cookies every time you start your browser or something, which I know exists, then THAT would of course also remove the opt-out cookie Google is setting when you opt out.....)
posted by wildcrdj at 12:04 PM on March 7, 2012
posted by wildcrdj at 12:04 PM on March 7, 2012
Yeah, I think the problem is that the opt-out is designed to work even if you aren't logged in (since Search users, for example, are likely not to be). So thats why it's based on an opt-out cookie. But there really should be an account-level opt-out as well.
One "solution" is to do your email in a separate browser profile. Like, log in to GMail in a incognito Chrome window or separate Firefox profile. The other profile / instance won't share cookies and you can keep them separate.
posted by wildcrdj at 1:26 PM on March 7, 2012 [1 favorite]
One "solution" is to do your email in a separate browser profile. Like, log in to GMail in a incognito Chrome window or separate Firefox profile. The other profile / instance won't share cookies and you can keep them separate.
posted by wildcrdj at 1:26 PM on March 7, 2012 [1 favorite]
I think using the Disconnect extension will accomplish the same goal.
posted by zsazsa at 1:28 PM on March 7, 2012
posted by zsazsa at 1:28 PM on March 7, 2012
Mod note: Folks, please stick to the topic? thanks.
posted by jessamyn (staff) at 1:49 PM on March 7, 2012
posted by jessamyn (staff) at 1:49 PM on March 7, 2012
Response by poster: How do I do VERY PRIVATE BROWSING?
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I run Mozilla Firefox with Private Browsing, so each time I start a browser there are no cookies.
Unfortunately for me, the first chance it gets,
https://www.google.com/settings/ads/onweb
gives me an "id" cookie, since it notices there isn't one.
I have clicked on "OPT OUT" "OPT OUT" "OPT OUT" more times than I can count, and I am sick of clicking on it but having the cookies always come back.
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Is there a Firefox extension which will, once and for all, STOP the "id" tracking cookies from entering my browser?
And NO I don't want to switch to Google Chrome, what am I, stupid?
posted by shipbreaker at 2:46 AM on March 8, 2012
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I run Mozilla Firefox with Private Browsing, so each time I start a browser there are no cookies.
Unfortunately for me, the first chance it gets,
https://www.google.com/settings/ads/onweb
gives me an "id" cookie, since it notices there isn't one.
I have clicked on "OPT OUT" "OPT OUT" "OPT OUT" more times than I can count, and I am sick of clicking on it but having the cookies always come back.
=====
Is there a Firefox extension which will, once and for all, STOP the "id" tracking cookies from entering my browser?
And NO I don't want to switch to Google Chrome, what am I, stupid?
posted by shipbreaker at 2:46 AM on March 8, 2012
Is there a Firefox extension which will, once and for all, STOP the "id" tracking cookies from entering my browser?
Is there some reason the link to disconnect that zsazsa offered above doesn't solve your problem?
posted by jessamyn at 6:16 AM on March 8, 2012
Is there some reason the link to disconnect that zsazsa offered above doesn't solve your problem?
posted by jessamyn at 6:16 AM on March 8, 2012
Response by poster: Beef TACO plugin for Firefox!
https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/beef-taco-targeted-advertising/
That looks more like what I'm after.
posted by shipbreaker at 7:47 AM on March 8, 2012
https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/beef-taco-targeted-advertising/
That looks more like what I'm after.
posted by shipbreaker at 7:47 AM on March 8, 2012
This thread is closed to new comments.
You can opt out.
posted by zsazsa at 9:38 AM on March 7, 2012 [2 favorites]