Working with various security companies, I can tell you that the most dangerous piece of spyware you may ever download is windows 10. It's that scary.
They log ip's you connect to, it can take screenshots of your desktop and send them ~somewhere with no knolege to you... The list goes on of shady crap it pulls.
Yeah and they (or anyone with the IP) can track your location too. Or that's what I heard. I've never done it, but I believe its possible.
If course, if you know where to look. Google is really good at keeping users private, as are most companies in silicon valley. Apple is probably the most notorious for pissing off government officials by not collecting private data through iPhones.
They're great at using adware, yes. And the information they collect and keep is mostly used for your convienince in filling out forms on chrome, What password goes with what, your name, address... But it's All stuff you type in. Very rarely Will Google disclose your information.
So...why did he get in trouble then if they don't use spyware and all the stuff they get is for your good? Please let's not get into an argument.
Because They also use it to determine what ads to play you (adware). Some people don't think They should be able to do that.
Windows 10 sucks. I upgraded, and I regret it. If youre going from windows 7, upgrade. If youre on Windows 8.1. Warning. DON'T UPGRADE. EDIT: Going back to Windows 8.1 soon.