Google Rushes To Tackle Privacy Concerns With Controversial New Chrome Login Feature

Earlier this week, Google came under fire for a privacy violation in its Chrome browser. Security experts criticised the company for forcing users to sign into the browser if they signed into the web portal of Gmail. Now, Google is responding.

What typically used to happen with Chrome is that you signed into the browser separately if you wanted to sync things like your history, settings, bookmarks, and auto-fill passwords across all devices. If you just signed into Gmail however, or some other Google product, that would require a separate login.

But in the latest update for Chrome users noticed that, if they signed into Gmail, even the Chrome login at the top would light up with their account¡¯s profile picture. Google claims that automatic syncing isn¡¯t enabled, but users immediately assumed it was a ploy to trick them into sharing more data with the company than they were ready to.

Also Read: How To Keep Your Private Data Safe And Secure Online? Here Are Five Simple Ways To Consider

Now, in a blog post titled ¡®Product updates based on your feedback¡¯, Chrome¡¯s product manager Zach Koch explains he company is responding to the criticism and implementing some changes in the next version, Chrome 70. They¡¯re reportedly adding a new control that lets you disable the automatic login feature in Chrome. However it seems that will remain the browser¡¯s default behaviour (when you sign into Gmail on the web), so if that¡¯s not to your liking you need to change it manually.

In addition, Google is also changing is interface to make it clearer what data is being synced when you log in to Chrome. This is specifically with respect to passwords, credit card data, addresses, and your browsing history. In addition, the browser will now also clear all Google-authorised cookies once you sign out.

The new browser settings will come into play when Google launches Chrome 70 in mid-October.

This entire issue and it¡¯s response is a great indication of the state of data privacy across the world today. For years before this, a vast majority of users were oblivious to where and how their data was being shared, be it across social media or smartphone apps. But thanks to the Cambridge Analytica scandal, everyone¡¯s now on high alert where their online data is concerned, and with a zero-tolerance policy to boot.

Companies like Google and Facebook, monoliths in their field previously with the power to run riot, are now on a tight leash. As far as lawmakers and the public both are concerned, they¡¯re being kept a very careful watch. Any tech company putting a wrong foot right now as far as people¡¯s data is concerned could be dealing itself a massive blow, and for all except the most powerful possibly even signing their own death warrant.

Eventually though, this will pass. The Internet remembers forever, but Internet users forget things fairly quickly in the barrage of apps, memes, trends, and the next shiny thing. But in the meantime, you can bet even Google is stepping softly.