Why doesn't Google encrypt/decrypt the data on the client so that Google can't be accused of having access to that data?
This query seems innocent enough. It's maybe logical and an easy thing to ask for without realizing the implications. I would bet this type of thing happens with LOTS of sites that collect any sort of personal data.
Obviously for us here, blocking analytic platforms through an adblock tool is a smart thing to do, exactly for this reason. But obviously that doesn't scale to the masses.
Sadly I think there is a trend in our industry to gather everything, decide what you actually want/need later.
I think Google (and related) are to blame for enabling this kind of "data hoovering". Giving the customer what they want at the expense of us the users is getting kinda evil.
And that level of insight only works for small companies - at a certain point you want to combine analytics from your UI with things like “is this a high value customer” or “did this customer stop using the app after experiencing this frustrating UX”
Do I care? No.
We're watching the world burn right now with more pressing issues, and this whole thing seems so ridiculously academic and contrived.
The stampede of technology on our privacy, on our daily lives is, I think, one of those fires burning right now.