(nor the original op) Indeed, you're making quite a valid point, and we, as users of Google's services, have accepted this policy the day we started using their services for free.

Don't want Google to benefit off your browsing-data? you can stop using their services.

Now, the question becomes, is that actually possible? If I stop using Google Search, Gmail, Youtube, etc. would they stop collecting my "user data"?

I can replace Google with Facebook/Amazon/Criteo/... or anyone involved in the ad-retargeting business.