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Google is also responsible for the Android and Chrome platforms. In both cases, my impression is that they have long tolerated, if not promoted, ecosystems open to third party data collection of the more abusive sort. While Google may protect data gathered through maps, mail and their many other properties, their stewardship of Android / Chrome greatly diminishes my trust in their organization.

It's fair to say that Android is a big attack vector. Google is responsible for leaving the door unlocked, sure. But the data that's stolen is not Google's data. It's independently grabbed data.

So you can use Googles platforms to gather data, but you won't be getting what Google has.

Why?

I think you can say they built the first huge, impactful non-classified pile of surveillance data dedicated to advertising, and thereby set the bar for corporate behavior with this sort of thing. Of course it is inevitable that slimier outfits came along later and were worse. That's a predictable and expected outcome in any market niche.

So in that respect, I can agree.