All New Google Privacy Settings Announced at I / O 2021
This year I tuned in to Google I / O with privacy in mind. Chalk it up to the recent Facebook drama -Exec Turned Apple-Turned Unemployed, Employee Antonio García Martinez, who famously said in 2018 :
“Here’s the reality: most people don’t care about privacy. The media elites care about this, the inferior Eurocrats take care of this. And the whole complex of privacy and the industry – there is a whole set of very loud voices that constantly beat the drum and build a media career on this. “
He’s right, but I wouldn’t take quite such an accusatory tone. It is true that most people have not given much thought to privacy, but only because that is not what they were made to think about. They reused passwords everywhere because they didn’t know how best to create and store them; They didn’t sign up to receive hacked account notifications because they didn’t know they could. they didn’t care who was doing what with their data as long as they could non-stop web browsing, read email, and play games. But that is changing .
I’m glad more megaplatforms are starting to prioritize privacy, but there is still a lot more that can be done to hold hands with those who just use their devices without worrying about data security or privacy. So this is a lens, not a google lens, this is a different matter through which I was looking at today’s I / O lecture. And I found a few interesting points worth discussing (besides the usual PR about how Google stores your data on the device whenever possible and doesn’t sell your data to companies, etc.)
Block images on Google Photos
It’s great that Google is bringing the concept of locked folders right into Google Photos. We wish they also added that they plan to “reverse our decision to destroy your free Google Photos storage” to their ad set today, but they didn’t. Alas.
This means that you can now create a kind of “private folder” where you can store any photos that other applications should not touch. These photos will also not show up in your in-app photo feed – so no more random scrolling bumping into something you didn’t want to show when, say, you show your friends your best cat photos.
I’ll leave it to your imagination which photos to reserve for this new, protected space.
Use a password manager already (and change cracked passwords in no time)
Google is adding a new import tool to its Chrome-based password manager that you can use to dump login data from a .CSV file into this tool. We’re getting closer to where you really don’t have a compelling reason not to use a password manager, and that should make it easier to get started with it (or not use anything else).
In addition to that, Google Password Manager will now make it easy to change your compromised passwords – with one caveat. If the specified password manager allows it (not all websites and services are supported), you will be able to go directly to the password reset page wherever you have an insecure account. Google will not change the password for you, as opposed to the always useful tool for changing the password, which you will find in the paid application Dashlane . However, this is just another way to get people (you) to do something important (change broken passwords) with minimal effort.
Quickly delete what you just did on google-dot-com
In the Google Search app, you’ll soon be able to click on your little profile icon in the top right corner and use the debuting option that will delete the last 15 minutes of everything you’ve been doing. online. If you have a long history that you want to clear, you will have to do it the old fashioned way (or remember that incognito mode exists).
I assume this will be for both Android and iOS, but Google didn’t have any details to share.
Adjust privacy settings while apps use them
Another interesting addition that Google is adding to its apps is a more explicit reminder of when apps are using features that can activate your privacy sensors. For example, consider when Google Maps uses your Location History to do something, like suggest places to visit. You will now see a small icon right on Maps that you can use to turn the specified Location History on and off. You don’t have to rummage through all sorts of settings menus to find it.
Google has only shared this one I / O example, but I’ll be curious to see what other privacy options will be added to its other apps (and how long it will take to get them up and running).
Control your microphone and camera from Android 12 quick settings
I love that Google basically built an emergency switch for your device’s camera and microphone right in Android 12 (now in beta). Basically, swiping down the Android quick settings screen reveals two new options:
Tap any of them and you will immediately prevent all applications from using your camera or microphone, no matter what permissions you previously granted them. Disable the setting and your permissions will resume as normal.
Beyond that, Android 12 also gets this awesome new privacy dashboard that will show you exactly when and which apps have accessed various data (including built-in Google apps).
Get rid of unwanted moments on Google Photos
Ah, memories. Who doesn’t like seeing an ex pop up in one of those “remember this day?” tips that you get around the social network? At least on Google Photos, you will soon be able to either wipe entire memories off the face of the earth (if you hated them especially), change the name of the mentioned memory, or delete individual photos from memory if you liked everything about this great journey that you made. other than the person you went with.