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Health insurance giant, Blue Shield of California shared the private health data of millions with Google for years (news.blueshieldca.com)
submitted 3 days ago by joelvdc@lemmy.world to c/degoogle@lemmy.ml
0 comments fedilink

Crossposted from https://programming.dev/post/29115507

On February 11, 2025, Blue Shield discovered that, between April 2021 and January 2024, Google Analytics was configured in a way that allowed certain member data to be shared with Google’s advertising product, Google Ads, that likely included protected health information. Google may have used this data to conduct focused ad campaigns back to those individual members.

Blue Shield severed the connection between Google Analytics and Google Ads on its websites in January 2024.

What information was involved

  • Insurance plan name, type and group number;
  • city;
  • zip code;
  • gender;
  • family size;
  • Blue Shield assigned identifiers for members’ online accounts;
  • medical claim service date and service provider, patient name, and patient financial responsibility;
  • “Find a Doctor” search criteria and results (location, plan name and type, provider name and type).
Another deGoogled iPhone by joelvdc in c/degoogle@lemmy.ml
[-] joelvdc@lemmy.world 2 points 3 days ago

I didn’t know about sink it, will have a look! I currently use hydra to access Reddit on iOS.

Another deGoogled iPhone by joelvdc in c/degoogle@lemmy.ml
[-] joelvdc@lemmy.world 2 points 3 days ago

As I mentioned in other comments, I didn’t buy a new phone to degoogle. I’m sure there are more people on the same boat. And this is a degoogle group.

Another deGoogled iPhone by joelvdc in c/degoogle@lemmy.ml
[-] joelvdc@lemmy.world 2 points 3 days ago

Fuck that, next step is linux 🚀

We heard you like AI, here is more AI in Firefox: AI link previews. by joelvdc in c/firefox@lemmy.ml
[-] joelvdc@lemmy.world 5 points 4 days ago

Please no… I hope it can be disabled.

Another deGoogled iPhone by joelvdc in c/degoogle@lemmy.ml
[-] joelvdc@lemmy.world 6 points 4 days ago

Wdym? 😭

Another deGoogled iPhone by joelvdc in c/degoogle@lemmy.ml
[-] joelvdc@lemmy.world 11 points 5 days ago

Gotta start with what you have 🤷

Another deGoogled iPhone by joelvdc in c/degoogle@lemmy.ml
[-] joelvdc@lemmy.world 4 points 5 days ago

YouTube player app. Open source, no ads, no login, just import your subscriptions and playlists and you're ready to go.

Another deGoogled iPhone by joelvdc in c/degoogle@lemmy.ml
[-] joelvdc@lemmy.world 6 points 5 days ago

I didn't like the statements regarding Trump either, but he deleted it and made some comment/post on reddit distancing himself from Trump and right wing politics. So I made peace with that, but yeah, people won't forget.

Another deGoogled iPhone by joelvdc in c/degoogle@lemmy.ml
[-] joelvdc@lemmy.world 8 points 5 days ago

I mean, it the end it’s all up to personal preferences. I’m strongly considering to delete Bluesky due to the latest controversy. But would you care to elaborate?

Another deGoogled iPhone by joelvdc in c/degoogle@lemmy.ml
[-] joelvdc@lemmy.world 13 points 5 days ago

I love Tuta as well, they are great. But not being able to use Tuta with thunderbird was a deal breaker for me. Proton is Swiss btw.

Another deGoogled iPhone by joelvdc in c/degoogle@lemmy.ml
[-] joelvdc@lemmy.world 18 points 5 days ago

A linux phone is on my list, Jolla or similar. One battle at a time.

Another deGoogled iPhone by joelvdc in c/degoogle@lemmy.ml
[-] joelvdc@lemmy.world 21 points 5 days ago

I usually tell people the same, this is a decision I will have to live with. I am happy with Proton and also happy to support their growth, hopefully it will go well for a long time.

From the other services I tried, Filen and Ente deserve an honorable mention. I was close to just go Mail Plus + Filen + Ente. But as soon as you do Proton Mail + VPN, you then go with Proton Unlimited and that is what makes the most sense financially.

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Another deGoogled iPhone (lemmy.ml)
submitted 5 days ago by joelvdc@lemmy.world to c/degoogle@lemmy.ml
116 comments fedilink

A process that started roughly a year ago with just changing browser and search engine, now feeling that I got somewhere. The journey ended up being more than just degoogle, but also demetaing and taking more control over my data and privacy.

Before and after picture with notes:

Chrome -> Zen browser (Firefox on iOS)

Google -> Qwant

Gmail -> Proton Mail

NordVPN -> Proton VPN (I don’t use VPN very often, but have NordVPN through another subscription, now replaced with Proton across my devices)

Google Drive / Photos -> Proton Drive

Google Password Manager -> Proton Pass

Google Authenticator -> Proton Pass / Ente (Ente Auth is only used to store my 2FA keys for the Proton account, other keys are stored in Proton Pass)

Google Translator -> DeepL

YouTube -> FreeTube (Unwatched on iOS)

Google Maps -> Magic Earth (OSM on desktop)

WhatsApp -> Signal

Notion -> Anytype

Keep / Notes -> Notesnook

X -> Mastodon / Bluesky

Reddit -> Lemmy (Voyager on iOS, dreaming of an eventual complete migration)

Instagram -> Pixelfed

Facebook -> stopped using

Windows 11 -> Ubuntu (Only personal laptop, work laptop still windows)

view more: next ›

joelvdc

joined 1 year ago