@Caute_cautim wrote:
How does the rest of the world deal with this - its worse than Facebook?
Some users are ignorant, and others oblivious, but for most, privacy is a small price to pay for free services.
While Google is the subject of the post, let's take Facebook...
An avid Facebook user may be well versed with the site, the app, and so on --- but blind to what happens behind the scenes, how personal information is at risk, and the potential impact. Even if the user's eyes are opened, he / she would probably brush it off with "That's not likely to happen to me."
Looking at all this as a game, the sad facts are :-
- One of the major players is Facebook, and it's also hosting the game.
- Most other major player want the game to continue --- whether or not they play.
- Most of the minor players are addicted to the game, & care little about the outcome.
- Spectators who aren't too influential aren't going to be able to change the mindset of players.
Risks are about the same with Google, but most users are dependent / addicted to its services, such email, storage, games, etc..
One of links you provided was for an article on Medium.com taking about Google being inescapable --- I got proof of that on vising that site, coz I was prompted to register / sign-in with a Google or Facebook account... 
Or do we just give up and join them like sheep?
Awareness and attitude can make a difference here --- even if you do join the flock, having the right mindset should keep you from blindly jumping off a cliff with the others...
