Our keyboards are tracking us
While using android, I just use the built-in (should called “forced to use”) google made GBOARD. What I’ve noticed since I use this, whenever there is any privacy oriented browser tab or any field to entry password or pin code, the keyboard UI becomes different– showing a incognito icon on left top. (Presenting themselves so much sincere to users privacy! Hahaha…)
And while using gboard on my iOS, whenever I’m going to entry any password or browsing private tab, iPhone automatically switches to default built in iOS keyboard. After noticing this two common incident, I discovered a thing new. Whatever and whenever I type something in gboard (in android especially,) goggle and Facebook like services starts to show me exactly the same thing as advertisement! Which clearly means, Gboard is just collecting everything I types everywhere! To be noted that, I never uses Gboards built in search feature, gif feature. Even no voice typing. Very rarely I use the translate bottom from keyboard. Also all of privacy related options both in gboard settings and google account settings are strictly turned off in my side. I know that all other third party commercial keyboard apps (swift/gramarly…) tracks users typing. And gboard may track to enrich vocabulary and predictions (which will be acceptable in certain limit), But tracking everything for advertisement purposes, ai model training and further supplying to governmental agencies is never acceptable, nor anything ethical.
Why I still using gboard on android (one of few ggl services I still use) is because their largest language collection (even with phonetic method!!), and secondly some tiny features such as undo/redo option, clipboard and theme….
What I thinking now is to modify the apk file firstly to stop getting updates and permanently cutting off gboards connection from internet. Is it a easy task to do? Suggest me if there any discontented Gboard version. Also please share thoughts about keyboard tracking.