Re: news from Google

[Peter Beckman <beckman () angryox com>]

On Fri, 11 Dec 2009, Seth Mattinen wrote:

> "We want your money" versus "we want your life".

 I don't pay any of those search engines -- they make money off of
 advertising.  Huh, just like Google.

 And to think that none of the search engines are taking that data and
 trying to build better products or services is naive.

> We are all likely breaking some law on a daily basis.

 Now this I agree with.  There are so many laws, so many unenforced, that
 it is hard to know all of them, and to know which ones (in which state,
 city, local, or country!) you are breaking.

 You have the choice to be more private -- pay cash for everything, wear a
 hood or a mask to avoid being caught on camera, no EZpass, no bank
 account, no credit card, no cell phone, no phone at all, no Internet
 access.  But that's kinda difficult to do, given that most of us have jobs
 and income based solely on this medium.

 The ease of logging and the human justifcation of hording that data pretty
 much prevents you from having a private life.  Trust me, what you search
 on Google is much less valuable than your cell phone records, credit card
 statements and EZpass records.  Your search records are just icing on the
 cake to the proscecutor.

> Here's a pretty common line that Microsoft has that Google completely omits 
> (or that I can't find):
>
> "We do not sell, rent, or lease our customer lists to third parties."

 Have you opted out of your credit card company from doing so?  Do you feel
 as comfortable with your Credit Card company as you do with Google?  Do
 you feel MORE comfortable with Microsoft managing your Credit Card?

 C'mon.  Your personal information is so easily gotten right now it's silly
 for anyone to think that knowing Microsoft won't sell their customer lists
 will somehow protect you.

Beckman
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Peter Beckman                                                  Internet Guy
beckman () angryox com                                 http://www.angryox.com/
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