Google new privacy policy

[aimeeandbeatles]

I tried to read it the best I could but I'm not sure I understood it really.

What do you people think of it?

Is there anything people should worry about?

Please try to stay away from debates on whether Google is the Antichrist is unethical or something like that.

 

[Tommy Vercetti]

As long as they don't make my searches and what I watch on Youtube public.

 

[warpus]

I think what it mainly does is bringing all of their services under one security umbrella.

 

[aimeeandbeatles]

I think what it mainly does is bringing all of their services under one security umbrella.

Yes they had a bunch of seperate policies and a lot of them are one now. Im not sure if thats good (as it makes things simpler) or bad (as services are very different).

 

[warpus]

Yes they had a bunch of seperate policies and a lot of them are one now. Im not sure if thats good (as it makes things simpler) or bad (as services are very different).

It seems to have made things a bit more convenient for me, so I don't mind.

 

[aimeeandbeatles]

Yes.

I notice on all the Google services they were popping up this message about the new policy. Which i think is a good sign. I hate it when they change their privacy policy with only a little notification tucked away somewhere where you wouldnt think to see it. And then all of a sudden you're getting special promotions from other companies. This has happened once to me and Im reluctant to register for new services or forums these days. (That, and the recurring cyberstalker issues.)

 

[GrandAdmiral]

The main problem is it allows them to share your info between services in ways that have unintended consequences. For example, the contents of your gmail messages will influence your search results. This might sound paranoid but say you do a web search in front of someone, the fact that it is influenced by your email can create a lot of bad innuendo. What you really need to look out for is employers abusing stuff like because that already happens quite often.

 

[innonimatu]

Google's (and the rest of its ilk) privacy policy is that you don't have any privacy. Get used to it.

 

[aimeeandbeatles]

I dont appreciate hyperbole thank you

 

[innonimatu]

I dont appreciate hyperbole thank you

It's not hyperbole. Tough I don't expect that someone who clings to the illusion of receiving free services from corporations will understand that.

The problem with people nowadays is that they're too bloody cheap! There are businesses which can credibly be maintained even with donations if the typical ad revenue model is not wanted/enough (from this forum I guess - should it be tried - up to stuff the size of wikipedia), but bulk email of storage space isn't one of those, those are regarded as commodities: people won't feel sufficiently engaged to donate for it, and add revenue may not be enough to provide good service.

 

[aimeeandbeatles]

Before complaining that I am too bloody cheap I would like to know your average yearly income. The household income is certainly under $10,000 here. For paying for my website, hobby, the Imageshack subscription, etc, that's all done through very strict budgeting.

 

[Zelig]

It's not hyperbole. Tough I don't expect that someone who clings to the illusion of receiving free services from corporations will understand that.

The problem with people nowadays is that they're too bloody cheap! There are businesses which can credibly be maintained even with donations if the typical ad revenue model is not wanted/enough (from this forum I guess - should it be tried - up to stuff the size of wikipedia), but bulk email of storage space isn't one of those, those are regarded as commodities: people won't feel sufficiently engaged to donate for it, and add revenue may not be enough to provide good service.

Yeah, I've switched a good chunk of my stuff to Hotmail, since they've got a $30/yr option to remove ads, and the only way to get rid of ads in gmail is to get Google apps for business which runs $50/yr.

 

[warpus]

The main problem is it allows them to share your info between services in ways that have unintended consequences. For example, the contents of your gmail messages will influence your search results. This might sound paranoid but say you do a web search in front of someone, the fact that it is influenced by your email can create a lot of bad innuendo. What you really need to look out for is employers abusing stuff like because that already happens quite often.

It's not really your fault what sort of ads a website may or may not display while you're browsing, so nobody sane will really blame it on you. You might get embarassed, but it's not your fault.

 

[Disgustipated]

just don't talk about penis pumps in your email and you should be okay.

 

[Tahuti]

It's not really your fault what sort of ads a website may or may not display while you're browsing, so nobody sane will really blame it on you. You might get embarassed, but it's not your fault.

Plus you may modify it.

Still, I do think innonimatu has a point.

 

[Mise]

Google's (and the rest of its ilk) privacy policy is that you don't have any privacy. Get used to it.

It's not hyperbole. Tough I don't expect that someone who clings to the illusion of receiving free services from corporations will understand that.

The problem with people nowadays is that they're too bloody cheap! There are businesses which can credibly be maintained even with donations if the typical ad revenue model is not wanted/enough (from this forum I guess - should it be tried - up to stuff the size of wikipedia), but bulk email of storage space isn't one of those, those are regarded as commodities: people won't feel sufficiently engaged to donate for it, and add revenue may not be enough to provide good service.

Yup, I agree that we should presume to have zero privacy, regardless of what "privacy policies" say. Our choices should be predicated on the assumption of zero privacy - that all your information can and will be sold to the highest bidder. And our actions should follow from that assumption. In other words, don't google for porn unless you want the world to know that what porn you like. We really do need to get used to it, but not in a complacent sense -- we need to get used to using Google for "public" searches and other services for "private" stuff.

So yeah, if you want something for free, assume zero privacy. If you want privacy, assume that you have to pay for it (though don't assume that any paid service will guarantee your privacy) And you should still assume that anything you put on the internet can get hacked, even if you pay for it.

 

[Ajidica]

It's not really your fault what sort of ads a website may or may not display while you're browsing, so nobody sane will really blame it on you. You might get embarassed, but it's not your fault.

We get that on CFC all the time! If we ever get a Middle East thread and a gay marriage thread going at the time the Google ads get very specific.

 

[Gelion]

Before complaining that I am too bloody cheap I would like to know your average yearly income. The household income is certainly under $10,000 here. For paying for my website, hobby, the Imageshack subscription, etc, that's all done through very strict budgeting.

Sorry to break it to you, but if you do not pay for your services you get your money's worth. In practical terms it means you sell your personal data in exchange for services. Thats the price.

 

[aimeeandbeatles]

To be honest Im not entirely sure how advertisers would care that the cache preload for my website is complete (I really need to clear those out from my inbox) or that I have extremely surreal dreams.

 

[Gelion]

To be honest Im not entirely sure how advertisers would care that the cache preload for my website is complete (I really need to clear those out from my inbox) or that I have extremely surreal dreams.

I'm sure it goes a little beyond that and that professionals are employed. Nevermind, we're still using it aren't we?