more on Google Phone Search sparks Privacy Concerns

[Dave Farber <dave () farber net>]

------ Forwarded Message
From: Ted Dolotta <Ted () Dolotta ORG>
Reply-To: Ted () Dolotta ORG
Date: Mon, 24 Mar 2003 15:24:42 -0500
To: dave () farber net
Subject: RE: [IP] Google Phone Search sparks Privacy Concerns

Well, I think this is a bit alarmist:  if you read what Google says
about this feature:

    "PhoneBook

    Google has added the convenience of US street address and phone
    number lookup to the information we provide through our search box.
    You'll see publicly listed phone numbers and addresses at the top
    of results pages for searches that contain specific kinds of keywords."

The key word in the para above is "public."  What Google does is basically
a look-up in a reverse (by number) white-pages directory, tells you what it
found, and offers to show you a Yahoo map.  Except for the map, your phone
company will do the same, but charge you for it ...

If your number is unlisted, you get nothing back.  In my case, when I enter
my number, I get "Ted Dolotta, Princeton, NJ 08540," which is correct, and
is
the info I'm happy to divulge.  If I ask for a map, I get a map of the area
of Central New Jersey surrounding Princeton and centered on my ZIP code.

Google also says:

    "Our phone and address listings are gathered by a third party provider,
    which collects telephone directories and other public records available
    elsewhere on the web. If you would like to have your telephone number
    completely unlisted (including from your local phone book), contact your
    local phone company and request to be both unlisted and unpublished."

The last sentence above says it all.

I find this relatively benign:  If you list your address in a white-pages
phone book, anyone can find out where you live ...

Ted Dolotta

> -----Original Message-----
> From: owner-ip () v2 listbox com [mailto:owner-ip () v2 listbox com]On Behalf
> Of Dave Farber
> Sent: Monday, March 24, 2003 10:11 AM
> To: ip
> Subject: [IP] Google Phone Search sparks Privacy Concerns
>
>
> I deleted mine djf
>
> ------ Forwarded Message
> From: JELyon <jelyon () mac com>
> Date: Mon, 24 Mar 2003 09:01:56 -0600
> To: dave () farber net
> Subject: Google Phone Search sparks Privacy Concerns
>
> Received from another list I'm on, and may be of interest, concern to
> IPers.
>
> Begin forwarded message:
>
> > Check this out.....New Google Feature <<http://www.google.com/>>
> >
> > Type your telephone number into Google's search bar (minus the first
> > 1) &
> > click the search button. Your name and address and phone number will
> > appear. There will be an icon next to your address "Yahoo Maps". Click
> > this
> > and a map to your house will pop up with directions to your house from
> > anywhere in the country.
> >
> > People could use this feature to locate your home address, and receive
> > explicit directions on how to get there from anywhere in the country.
> > You
> > can remove your name off this database-- To do this...type in your full
> > phone number...555-123-4567
> >
> > If your number appears in the mapping database, an icon resembling a
> > telephone will appear next to the entry on the results page. Click on
> > this
> > icon and it will take you to a page containing a description of the
> > service, and a link to request your number be removed!
> --
> "Blind faith in your leaders, or in anything,
> will get you killed."   -- Bruce Springsteen
>
>
> ------ End of Forwarded Message
>
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