Google search tracking

I just tried to use the search forums box. It gave me a google page that has what looks to me like an ambiguously worded statement of what you may be able to opt out of in terms of the data they hoover up about you. Not visted the forum for some time, so wonder what others make of it.

Hmmm, mouses sideways and enters RPCEMU in search box, click “Go”

Screen full of forum presented links to pages with mentions of RPCEmu…

Search Whole Site box on the Home Page is more like what Jim reported, but Search Forums box on this page works normally for me as it does for Steve.

“Search forum” and “Search wiki” are local features that are uniquely a forum/wiki search.

The “Search whole site” elsewhere just throws the request at Google. It really ought to mention that it uses Google for those who are more aware of the sorts of things Google get up to…

What do I make of it? I don’t believe a word of it, bit at least there’s a notification. Really the law needs to be amended to concentrate not so much on the user giving consent but on their right of accessing the data collected.
We are supposed to be giving informed consent, yet there is no mention of if collected data is shared with third parties or if it is sold. It also says “You can also visit g.co/privacytools at any time” but this requires you to log into a Google account. What about data collected when not logged in?
And, finally, taking a snapshot of your Google data is quite literally that. A copy of all of the data that you have given Google. It does not contain information on assumptions that Google has made from tracking your browsing behaviour. For example, as I sometimes used to order stuff for mom from my Amazon, I think for a while they thought I was a female granny geek and tailored the suggestions accordingly (that somebody would be ordering for somebody else was too much of a stretch for so-called AI).
All in all, therefore, there is insufficient information to give Google informed consent. However, at least they’re now asking, so I guess that’s a start.
They even put the Reject all button on the same page as the Accept all one and don’t try to fob you of with the Legitimate Interest ruse. To see what I mean, open a private tab and go look at the horror show that is the Daily Mail.

We are supposed to be giving informed consent

A nasty habit of using bit.ly seemed to develop a while back. It doesn’t work in our network¹ but its main reason for existence is collecting data about users. Nothing mentions that data collecting to the unwilling victims clicking the links.

To see what I mean, open a private tab and go look at the horror show that is the Daily Mail.

Before I do that: What’s the computer version of mind bleach? My mind will be scarred, but that sort of recovers.

¹ Someone decided to block it in the proxy :) (it wasn’t me BTW, although I do agree)