Tbh at least this one makes sense, who is going to use a VPN (an internet privacy tool) from Google?
My purpose for a VPN is more about connecting to WiFi APs I don’t control. Google VPN worked just fine for that.
These days you don’t get much extra benefit on a VPN over TLS which you get on 99% of websites.
I disagree here, as an American using a Swiss exit node (most compliant) websites are forced to allow a much higher degree of privacy to comply with the laws there.
While I block all third party advertising and tracking anyway, it’s incredibly satisfying seeing websites explicitly list out everything they’re tracking about you and having that “reject all” button.
when traveling Communist countries in Asia with google fi it was really nice to have
but then they revoked my data service while charging me the same amount every month, because they said I’m traveling too much.
two years I think. they told me I need to go to the United States at least once a year.
Yeah right? I have a VPN to prevent Google (amongst many others) from having too much of my data.
Other than source IP address, I don’t see how does that prevent Google from having your data.
I completely block all Google access via DNS blocklists (I realize it’s not 100% bulletproof as you could get around the block by just knowing the IP address). Because their tracking is including in basically every app and website I think this is the only effective way to stop tracking.
Using a VPN might make you more anonymous in other ways, but that alone isn’t going to stop anything from building a profile on you.
Google VPN is/was only available in select countries.
https://support.google.com/googleone/answer/7582172
There are 2 lists of countries applicable here. The list of countries where the VPN is included with a Google One subscription and the list where you could use the VPN while traveling.
You’ll notice that countries known for internet censorship are missing from both lists, so using it for that purpose wouldn’t work at all.