Google wants to be able to load slow websites faster in Android in the future and to bypass HTTPS encryption if necessary. Slow, unencrypted pages are already being loaded from the Google cache in order to significantly shorten the waiting time. This is now also the case for HTTPS pages – if the user activates the data saving mode.
In data-saving mode, Google takes over the delivery of the page as a proxy cache and ensures a simplified, data-saving display. According to Google, the data load can be reduced by up to 90 percent. This function is by no means new: “Opera Mini” already offered such a mode. Chrome has also been equipped with this function for some time. Now, however, it is to be used for the first time for encrypted pages, which is probably due to the fact that the proportion of unencrypted pages is now negligibly low. The problem is that the browser helps to bypass the encryption of the website. So it’s quite a delicate issue from a data protection point of view.
For this reason, Google attaches great importance to being as transparent as possible. All HTTPS pages loaded from the Google cache will be marked as such. If the hint is touched, a white banner appears with a link to the original page. Furthermore, Google limits itself to transmitting the URL. However, it should be noted that more sensitive data such as cookies or login data could also be transmitted as URL parameters. The assurance that only the URL will be transmitted therefore does not exclude the transmission of sensitive data.
The data saving mode – if it has been activated at all – is used for slow connections. Google defines all 2G connections and connections where there is a delay of more than five seconds before the first content is displayed as slow connections.
