As of this week, companies that use Google Workspace, formerly G Suite, will receive an update that removes privacy settings from company admins. By default, all tracking is turned back on.
With free Google products, we have known for some time that our data is used as a means of payment, but that is also increasingly becoming the change in paying for Google services. This includes Workspace, Google’s business suite. It is rolling out a controversial update this week in which privacy settings are adjusted, ostensibly to turn back on as much tracking as possible.
This means splitting the existing ‘Web & App Activity’ panel, with some settings moving into a new ‘Search History’ panel. So, tracking options come in two places. The ‘Search History’ is essential because the option seems to give Google permission to save almost your entire work and surfing history.
Also, noteworthy, company admins no longer can set company-wide privacy settings. Instead, each user has to struggle through the often confusing menus to set their own privacy. Previously set options are also restored to the standard version, an option that Google itself seems to provide more information. In other words, users of companies that had previously turned off tracking will default to an option that includes tracking unless they change it themselves.
The fear is that this is a fairly transparent way to provide Google with more tracking because many users do not have the knowledge or patience to adjust their own privacy settings, according to tech site Ars Technica, which noted the update. Workspace users who do want to try it can do so on the ‘My Activity’ page, where they need to adjust both Search History and Web & App Activity. If you don’t find a ‘Search History’ panel, you haven’t received an update from Workspace yet.
