GabrieleSep 24, 2023
Mark A. ⏏️ {FalconMarkSix}

PSA: Google has now begun to roll-out the Ad Topics "feature" onto Android itself. It's not just in Chrome you have to disable the settings. Please #Boost to spread awareness.

If you didn't get the pop-up screen on your Android device (it looks like the first two screenshots), to opt-out of these settings:

  • Go to your device Settings
  • Press "Google"
  • Press "Ads"
    • While you're here, press the "Delete Advertising ID" button and delete it
  • Press "Ad Privacy"
  • Review: "Ad Topics", "App-suggested ads", and "App Measurement". Make sure all are labelled as "OFF". (This page will look like the third screenshot)

    • If you don't see "Ad Privacy" in Step 4 then it means that it hasn't been rolled out to you yet. You might need to wait and check back in a couple of days to see if/when it has been implemented to disable these settings.

    EDIT: There's another setting to review. In step 2, scroll to "Personalize using shared data". Turn everything off.

    Pt. 2 in Replies

    #Android #Google #Privacy #AdTopics

    Sep 22, 2023 at 4:20pmWeb
    Show threadProf West Wing Chicken ShackSep 22, 2023

    @FalconMarkSix

    May show me "relevant ads"

    Ah, no. There's no such thing as a relevant ad in my life.

    NO. SUCH. THING.

    Show threadMark GardnerSep 25, 2023
    @garystark @philsplace @FalconMarkSix A “relevant ad” is just regular information
    Show threadProf West Wing Chicken ShackSep 25, 2023

    @mjgardner @philsplace @FalconMarkSix

    Nope.

    There is no such thing as a "relevant ad".

    Not for me.

    Not in my life.

    Not ever.

    Thank you for playing; have a nice day and a wonderful life, and please be sure to enjoy YOUR relevant ads.

    😊

    Cheers

    Show threadMark GardnerSep 25, 2023

    @garystark I’m thrilled to discover that you heard through word of mouth alone about all the (checks profile at https://theblower.au/@garystark) music, travel, food, technology, and other products and services you enjoy.

    I envy your ability to gather such a knowledgeable circle of friends who are laser-focused on your interests.

    Show threadProf West Wing Chicken ShackSep 25, 2023

    @mjgardner @philsplace @FalconMarkSix

    That's very astute of you to notice this.

    I do have a wide circle of friends and interests, and yes, you're correct, my friends provide me with good counsel.

    They know me; they know who I am, and they know of and appreciate my interests and spheres of influence.

    Advertisers do not.

    Yes, it's that simple.

    Show threadMark GardnerSep 25, 2023
    @garystark Amazing, and you’ve completely avoided everything your friends didn’t recommend to you.
    Show threadMark GardnerSep 25, 2023
    @garystark I wonder where they found the things to funnel your way
    Show threadMark GardnerSep 25, 2023
    @garystark I really hope all of the creators of everything you hold dear have just as extensive a network of close personal friends to direct them to their tools and materials. I shudder to think of the consequences if any of their valuable creations benefited from their exposure to advertising relevant to the process.
    Show threadeestileib (she/hers)Sep 25, 2023

    @mjgardner @garystark

    We get it, you like ads.

    Show threadJoe  Feb 13, 2024
    @mjgardner @garystark , what sums it up for me is that I can live happily without any of my gadgets/advertising but would regret dearly not having my friends.
    (also let's have a close look at how capitalism has shaped this world and if we're able to escape the demise of both).
    Show threadMark GardnerFeb 13, 2024
    @Antigrav Congratulations, you’re receiving my first use of one of @danhon’s new reply stickers
    Show threadJoe  Feb 14, 2024
    @mjgardner @danhon , lol,
    I didn't want you to feel too bad unloading your cynicism into the void.
    (Just look at it as a reply, they happen in social interactions).
    Show threadMark GardnerFeb 14, 2024
    @Antigrav Have another sticker. Muting now.
    Show threadIvan Sagalaev Apr 9, 2024

    @mjgardner @garystark one obvious difference between ads and non-ads is who initiates the request. If I'm searching for it, it's not an ad. If a company shows me something whenever it wants to sell it, it's an ad. And we can go into a sophistic argument about the definition, but most people just get it innately. "Relevant ad" is a gaslighting term invented by ad industry trying to normalize all this bullshit.

    If ads were useful, removing them wouldn't be a premium feature.

    Show threadBen AvelingSep 25, 2023
    @garystark @FalconMarkSix pretty sure the definition of “relevant ad” is “something I just bought already”
    Show threaddatordžeks 🇱🇻Sep 22, 2023
    @FalconMarkSix you are just touching your screen. do you really believe it will work?
    Show threadm0xEESep 22, 2023
    @FalconMarkSix
    Post criticizing Google illustrated by images in WebP format… so contradictory 😏
    Show threadrugkSep 23, 2023
    @m0xee @FalconMarkSix the format is open and supported by others too AFAIK
    Show threadm0xEESep 23, 2023
    @rugk @FalconMarkSix
    It is, but as much as Chrome is — you can have your own implementation, but if it does something differently, no one will use it as it won't be backed by company like Google. So you are free to reimplement it, but do things exactly how G does them.
    It also offers only marginal advantages, while making implementing new browsers harder — if you want to support WebP. Of course you can rely on Google's implementation — but that gives you extra attack surface as we now know.
    Show threadm0xEESep 23, 2023
    @rugk @FalconMarkSix
    But it was just a pun anyway — definitely not the right thread to tell people about that too, original post already puts Google in an unfavourable light. Enough of them for today 😅
    Show threadChris SimpsonSep 23, 2023
    @m0xee @FalconMarkSix
    Show threadm0xEESep 23, 2023
    @chris_e_simpson @FalconMarkSix
    Exactly 😂
    Show threadkdwangSep 23, 2023
    @m0xee @FalconMarkSix Its not as contradicting as you'd think. As monopolists they are able to buy up talent, and projects to put their name to them. Their connections to governments also should ring alarm bells.
    Show thread[moved to @[email protected]]Sep 22, 2023
    @FalconMarkSix already disabled! i think this feature has been around for a while in, for example, the “google” app
    Show threadMark A. ⏏️ {FalconMarkSix}Sep 22, 2023
    @f00fc7c8 That's great!! Yeah I have no idea why mine were automatically on. In any case, it's good to check these settings since it might not be off for everyone right off the bat.
    Show thread[moved to @[email protected]]Sep 22, 2023
    @FalconMarkSix I feel like I turned them off myself, but did so some months ago. Or maybe it’s a result of some other Google privacy setting I set.
    Show threadDodo & the BrawnSep 23, 2023
    @f00fc7c8 @FalconMarkSix I think I did it when I set up the phone
    Show thread[moved to @[email protected]]Sep 23, 2023
    @dodoandthebrawn @FalconMarkSix That might have been it for me, too.
    Show threadWalter TrossSep 22, 2023
    @FalconMarkSix
    those 3 settings were off for me, and my first thought was that it's because I'm in the EU, but other people here reported the same although they don't seem to be in the EU (but I'm not sure)
    Show threadMark A. ⏏️ {FalconMarkSix}Sep 22, 2023
    @waltertross It's weird because when Google was implementing these settings into Chrome a month ago they were already off. These new settings baked into Android were turned on. I'm not in the EU either so I'm not sure why/how Google decides what is off or on.
    Show threadLeonardo Ferreira FontenelleSep 22, 2023
    @FalconMarkSix Mine was already off. Perhaps because it was in Android that Chrome tried to opt me in? Or perhaps because my ad ID was already off.
    Show threadMark A. ⏏️ {FalconMarkSix}Sep 22, 2023
    @lffontenelle Maybe this is why? My ad ID was on. In Chrome the privacy settings were automatically off for me. Maybe Google is deciding to turn it on either in Chrome or the Android settings? Very strange.
    Show threadDodo & the BrawnSep 23, 2023
    @FalconMarkSix @lffontenelle if it says create new ID, that must mean it's deleted?
    Show threadLeonardo Ferreira FontenelleSep 23, 2023
    @dodoandthebrawn @FalconMarkSix I guess so?
    Show threadMark A. ⏏️ {FalconMarkSix}Sep 23, 2023

    @lffontenelle @dodoandthebrawn Yeah there's no need to do anything on that page if it says Create new advertising ID. The settings you need to turn off are on the Ad Privacy page.

    Also please do check: Settings>Google>"Personalize using shared data" to make sure everything is off.

    Show thread🌸Lilyana Marie🌸Sep 23, 2023

    @FalconMarkSix I did this long ago.

    Plus, I block ads on my network, so all is good.

    Show threadMark A. ⏏️ {FalconMarkSix}Sep 23, 2023
    @Lilyana Awesome!  I think some Pixel phones had this pushed early. I wrote this toot because we've all seen articles on how to disable it in Chrome, but I never saw instructions on how to do so in the Android settings.
    Show thread🌸Lilyana Marie🌸Sep 23, 2023
    @FalconMarkSix It's the same across newer devices, and some as far back as Android 7. Before that, it's just resetting the Ad ID.
    Show thread^[[200~MichaelSep 23, 2023
    @FalconMarkSix Thanks for the heads up. I disabled all in chrome desktop about two weeks ago, now had 1 disabled and two enabled on Android (Pixel 4). Do you happen to know under what circumstances they would be allowed to re-enable them? Do we have to check after every Android update?
    Show threadMark A. ⏏️ {FalconMarkSix}Sep 23, 2023
    @mnf That I have no clue. However, based on past experience with the "Personalize using shared data" page, it does seem that Google does have the ability to re-enable some settings on. I guess only time and vigilance will tell if these particular settings get re-enabled. Which sucks because Google should just simply accept our decisions.
    Show threadDiamond JoySep 23, 2023
    @FalconMarkSix
    Thanks a million for taking the time to do this. I just did everything listed. Gotta ward off the evil Google empire. 😉
    Show threadMark A. ⏏️ {FalconMarkSix}Sep 23, 2023
    @Diamondjoy Right on! We all have to show them that this isn't OK! 
    Show threadAJ Fidalgo (voice actor)Sep 23, 2023

    @FalconMarkSix so a couple of things I observed following these steps:

    a) the settings seem to be linked to your Google account, so if you changed the settings somewhere else, like on your browser on desktop while logged in, they should transfer over, hopefully (they did for me);

    b) if, like me, you have multiple Google accounts linked to your phone, you have to take these steps for every account.

    Show threadMark A. ⏏️ {FalconMarkSix}Sep 23, 2023

    @MrF

    • A) Hmm... When they started rolling out the options in Chrome I disabled them. When today's pop-up came to review the settings in Android, they were already enabled. They didn't match. Perhaps it was because I have my Chrome data encrypted by a custom passphrase?
    • B) I also have a second account linked on my phone and the Ad privacy settings were already off.

    There are a lot of variables. Some have it already turned off, some have it on, and some don't have it pushed out to them yet.

    I know my Chrome settings across different platforms did match correctly, but yeah the question is whether the settings in Android itself will too. I have a secondary phone with the same two accounts as my primary phone, and I'm curious to see if it'll sync correctly when it eventually receives the new ad-topic settings.

    Show threadAJ Fidalgo (voice actor)Sep 23, 2023
    @FalconMarkSix this whole thing of Google rolling out tracking features, opting everyone in, and billing them as privacy features is terrible. I'm glad to see people sounding the alarm. Along with the enshittification of the search engine and the browser, things are just getting more and more difficult.
    Show threadRahul SetrakianSep 23, 2023
    @FalconMarkSix already turned off.
    Show thread gravitos Sep 23, 2023

    @FalconMarkSix

    more choice over the ads you see
    still no choice to not see any ads

    Show threadMarcel 🛡 ♻Sep 23, 2023
    @FalconMarkSix
    The time has come to make work of using a deGoogled browser. #Vivaldi, #Firefox or #Mullvad. And change the search engine to #DuckDuckGo. Put a block on trackers and third-party cookies and ads.
    @Vivaldi
    Show threadMark A. ⏏️ {FalconMarkSix}Sep 23, 2023

    @marcellinusme @Vivaldi Just to clarify the whole "Ad-topic" settings are now being pushed into the Android settings. Even if you were to disable Chrome, the settings would still exist within Android.

    It is a good idea to use an alternate browser, but it's also good to check if these settings within Android are also turned off (if its been pushed to your device settings already).

    Show threadDaveSep 23, 2023
    @FalconMarkSix I still don't understand how they can use the same dark pattern for enabling it as they used in chrome
    Show threadChaos Agent SpectreSep 23, 2023

    @FalconMarkSix holy hell thank you for this, I wasn't even aware this was happening on android as well.

    Time to switch to a more secure OS it seems

    Show threadMark A. ⏏️ {FalconMarkSix}Sep 23, 2023

    @ChaosSpectre It was a shock when I woke up to this screen in the morning since I thought it was only a Chrome thing. I thought others should know that it's happening.

    Yeah never thought about installing a custom OS until now. Too many shady things happening lately. 

    Show threadParigot-Manchot φSep 23, 2023
    @FalconMarkSix @1HommeAzerty Android 9 with MIUI here. Got all options except "Ad privacy"... for now.
    Show threadMark A. ⏏️ {FalconMarkSix}Sep 23, 2023
    @parigotmanchot @1HommeAzerty My Android 13 device has it (where the screenshots are from) but my stock Android 10 doesn't. Probably just a matter of time. 😬
    Show threadParigot-Manchot φSep 23, 2023
    @FalconMarkSix @1HommeAzerty Does it applies to ALL Android versions ?
    Show threadMark A. ⏏️ {FalconMarkSix}Sep 23, 2023
    @parigotmanchot @1HommeAzerty Might affect Android 5.0+.
    Show threadAskaaronSep 23, 2023
    @FalconMarkSix
    Just for the records: this does not mean that you don't get ads. They are just not personalized and the advertisers get less statistical data back.
    Show threadLaurens 🐐Sep 23, 2023

    @FalconMarkSix Thanks for the heads-up. All ad options were already turned off for me, but the using shared data wasn't. Sneaky. Fortunately everything can still be turned off 😅

    edit: I am in the EU but use a Pixel 6a so I'm caught in Google's clutches anyway 😱

    Show threadMark A. ⏏️ {FalconMarkSix}Sep 23, 2023
    @ElBeeToots No problem! You need to watch the shared data settings though because if you install a new app it may then appear on that list already enabled. Not only that, but sometimes the options magically become enabled again. 
    Show threadLaurens 🐐Sep 23, 2023
    @FalconMarkSix Yep, I know, I always check the privileges an app asks for before downloading as well.