Google Set to Replace Government as Big Brother
Google’s new so-called privacy policy may be the end of online privacy for hundreds of millions of users worldwide.
By Gavriel Queenann
Google has come under fire over plans to track user’s across all of its websites and use the information to alter the person’s search results.
The Internet giant indicated it would combine data across its Web sites, and track all of its users search activities, to stitch together a fuller portrait of users, and consumers won’t be able to opt out of the changes that go into effect March 1.
„We’re rolling out a new main privacy policy that covers the majority of our products and explains what information we collect, and how we use it, in a much more readable way,” Alma Whitten, Google’s director of privacy, product and engineering, wrote in the blog post.
„We believe this new, simpler policy will make it easier for people to understand our privacy practices as well as enable Google to improve the services we offer,” she said.
Google noted that „regulators globally have been calling for shorter, simpler privacy policies” and said it would inform users of the changes by email and with a notice on the Google.com home page.
The main change announced on Tuesday involves users who have Google accounts.
„If you’re signed in, we may combine information you’ve provided from one service with information from other services,” Whitten said. „In short, we’ll treat you as a single user across all our products, which will mean a simpler, more intuitive Google experience.”
However, privacy activists say say users must have the option to opt out from new privacy changes in order to protect them from unwanted corporate intrusion. The changes in Google’s privacy policy, the company can collect information about users when they activate an Android mobile phone, sign into their accounts online or enter search terms.
It can also store cookies on people’s computers to see which Web sites they visit or use its popular maps program to estimate their location.
According to The Washington Post, consumer advocates said that the new policy might upset people who never expect their information to be shared across so many different Web sites.
„Google’s new privacy announcement is frustrating and a little frightening,” said Common Sense Media chief executive James Steyer. „Even if the company believes that tracking users across all platforms improves their services, consumers should still have the option to opt out, especially the kids and teens who are avid users of YouTube, Gmail and Google Search,” Steyer added.
US Republican Edward J. Markey, co-chair of the Congressional Privacy Caucus, told the Washington Post „it is imperative that users will be able to decide whether they want their information shared across the spectrum of Google’s offerings.”
ZNet’s Larry Dingan wrote, „Unified user experience aside, it was kind of nice to have my YouTube personas different from say, Gmail and Google+. Google will know more about you than your wife does,” Dignan explained. „Everything across your screens will be integrated and tracked.
„Sure you can use Google’s dashboard and ad manager to cut things out, but this policy feels Big Brother-ish,” Dignan added. „Google is watching you as long as you are logged in.”
Earlier this week, the United States Supreme Court ruled law enforcement officers must obtain warrants before tracking a person’s vehicle around-the-clock with GPS. The ruling, while not comprehensive and limited to law enforcement, relies on the underlying presumption by the justices that ubiquitous tracking of a person’s movements is a violation of reasonable privacy expectations.
US Government officials requested personal data on Google Users for criminal investigations 5,590 times in the first half of 2011 – and increase of 29% over the last six months. Google reported it complied with 93% of these requests.
No warrant was required.
(http://www.israelnationalnews.com)
Stiu ca e ca si cum m-as pisa in mare dar am renuntat la google ca motor de cautare si am trecut la Yahoo ( e mai incet saracu’ da’ face treaba). Pentru cei mai tineri, Yahoo a fost cel mai bun inainte de google. Am desinstalat si Chrome, oricum sunt fan Opera de multi ani. Nu pot sa renunt la youtube (proprietate a lui google) dar una peste alta sunt multumit.
http://thenewamerican.com/tech-mainmenu-30/computers/8409-after-bilderberg-meeting-facebook-official-says-end-internet-anonymity
After Bilderberg Meeting, Facebook Official Says End Internet Anonymity | Print |
Written by Joe Wolverton, II
Monday, 01 August 2011 16:30
„The Facebook founding family isn’t the only faction of Internet aristocracy calling for the obliteration of namelessness on the net. Former Google CEO Eric Schmidt made the same recommendation, describing anonymity as “dangerous” and practically calling upon the governments of the world to “demand” that citizens of their respective nations cease the practice of employing usernames and identities beyond their own real names.”
the internet „aristocracy”. Astia chiar ma fac sa râd. mIm O.O mIm
Da, si ce viteji erau ei cand cu SOPA protest. Deja ma seaca la ficati ca nu mai am optiunea cash in rezultatele din cautare in google. Ma simt inconjurat si putin ingrijorat, de ce sa mint. Nu sunt un tip important, dar daca Dumnezeu ma lasa sa decid pentru mine insumi cine se cred ei ca sunt, arogantii astia?!
Cand era sa zic ca numai vesti proaste se aud din toate partile… hop Van Halen cu David Lee Roth scoate album, A Different Kind of Truth
Cu alte cuvinte, Google e „cu Ei”, sau „al Lor”, nu al nostru. Din partea mea, mi-ar veni să zic că mi se rupe (eu mi-am pus şi CV-ul pe blog). Dar faptul că cineva cercetează identităţi anonime pentru a le da „altora” mă enervează cumplit.
Evident, ştiam c-o fac, dar faptul că şi recunosc oficial sună deja a ameninţare: „aveţi grijă, că suntem cu ochii pe voi!” Puteţi fi. Mi se rupe!