March 12, 2024, 12:32 pm | Read time: 3 minutes
Calendar apps are useful everyday helpers with several practical advantages over paper versions. For instance, Google Calendar scores points by automatically pulling in the birthdays of saved contacts and reminding users of them. At least, it used to–this very function may currently be letting down some users who have grown accustomed to it. Why this is happening and what you can do to continue using it, you can read at TECHBOOK.
The recently enacted new laws on digital markets (Digital Markets Act – DMA) and digital services (DSA) “form a unified set of rules that apply throughout the EU.” This is according to the European Commission. The new legal framework aims to better protect consumers of digital services, including through increased transparency on online platforms. At the same time, it entails the loss of various automated services for them. This includes, but is not limited to, the popular birthday function of Google Calendar. TECHBOOK explains why.
What the DMA has to do with birthdays in Google Calendar
The laws are intended to create equal competitive conditions both in the European internal market and worldwide. TECHBOOK delves into this further. In any case, it means that U.S. companies must comply, meaning they have to adapt to the new regulations within the EU. Apple has already made significant changes; TECHBOOK reported. And, of course, Google cannot avoid it either. However, even though both companies are currently under criticism from the Consumer Center for not sufficiently implementing some of the required operating system updates, the birthdays have at least already disappeared from Google Calendar. The background is a change in data exchange among Google services.
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Changes in data exchange and protection
Data exchange between certain Google services previously occurred automatically–unless users had set different preferences. This means Google Calendar would automatically pick up on appointments made through a user’s Google email account and integrate them. Similarly, birthdays, if entered when saving contact information, were synchronized with Google Calendar.
This is likely to come to an (at least temporary) end now. Because: “As part of an agreement with a German regulatory authority, we are changing the processing of personal data,” Google writes on its support page. “Therefore, this function may not be available at all or only partially.”
How to preserve the birthday function
Some people have likely been saved from embarrassing situations by the reminder function. If you want to keep it, you can. As is often the case with data protection, it simply requires active consent. With the exception of Google Assistant: The service is not linked for users in Germany by default, explains Google Support, but also how it works with the others.
- Consent to data linking on the computer: In your Google account, open the “Data and Privacy” menu. Under “Linked Google Services,” you can manage which services should be linked. Once you’ve made your selection, click “Confirm,” then “Done,” and finally “Ok.”
- On Android devices: On Android smartphones or tablets, go to “Google” under settings, then “Manage Google Account” and “Data and Privacy.” Here, you can also select the desired links under “Linked Google Services.”
- On iPhone and iPad: On your iPhone or tablet, find the necessary settings under the three-line menu in the Gmail app and here under “Google Account.”
The settings are, of course, not set in stone. Or as Google explains: “You can review and update your selection of linked services at any time.”