I’ve been hearing a lot recently about Google possibly collecting and analyzing user data from their services, including potentially using this information for AI training purposes. This has me wondering if we should consider switching to alternative document platforms for our work files and collaborative projects. For those of us who have been using Google Docs for years, is the damage already done in terms of our privacy? What are your thoughts on whether it’s worth making the switch now, or if we should just accept that our data is already out there? I’m curious about what security measures others are taking and if anyone has found good alternatives that offer similar collaboration features without the privacy concerns.
i get where you’re coming from, but honestly, if privacy’s a big deal for you, maybe try looking at other tools. there are some cool options out there that focus on keeping your stuff private. just be careful with what you share, ya know?
Your privacy concerns are totally valid, but context matters. Google does use your data for various purposes, though they claim docs stay private unless you share them. Their terms of service are intentionally vague and change whenever they want. I switched to self-hosted solutions like Nextcloud Office for sensitive stuff about two years ago. The collaboration features work fine but need way more technical setup. For less sensitive projects, I still use Google Docs - the real-time collaboration can’t be beat. If you want your existing data back, use Google Takeout to download everything and delete your account. Be strategic about what goes where instead of going all-or-nothing. Your critical business documents need better protection than casual project notes.
Yeah, the privacy ship has sailed for most of us who’ve been deep in Google’s ecosystem. But that doesn’t mean we should just throw in the towel on protecting future data. I switched about 18 months ago after actually reading Google’s updated privacy policies - yikes. For new projects, I use CryptPad now. It’s got solid real-time collaboration without the data mining. The interface is clunky at first but works fine for sharing and editing docs. What hit me was how dependent I’d become on Google’s ecosystem without even thinking about it. Don’t panic about past data - just be more intentional moving forward. Keep Google Docs for harmless collaboration, move sensitive stuff elsewhere. You don’t need to go cold turkey overnight to make it worthwhile.