Google search universally holding on to your privates (not in an evil way)
- 30th May 2007
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- Ebay
Google
It’s my third week at Bronco Internet and I keep reading lots about people’s online privacy, identity theft stealing of databases and concerns about blogging, what you can and cannot say.
Universities taking legal action for defamation of character when students name and shame their teachers.
Myspace profiles targeted as a reason for people not to be employed the list go on!
Much like the company internet policy documents that had to be drafted up some years ago, which were always somewhat of a legal grey area with their “reasonable personal usage”. Yet, IT Administrators ignore their own company guidelines and actively snoop into people’s personal information.
Will it now be the case that blogging has to be included in the employment contract?
I welcome the recent blog by DaveN and Bronco’s open ear approach to the voice and opinions of its staff, how it demonstrates a level of trust and recognition to the team and their efforts.
Meanwhile, Google find themselves being questioned over data retention periods of more than two years and their proposed acquisition of Double-Click.
Personal surfing habits should be kept secret then?
Think of the potentially powerful marketing information that you would have at hand if you really knew your WORLDWIDE audience lifestyle and surfing habits.
What impact does demographics have on Google Search ?
Geographically targeted advertising has proved very useful.
But imagine this add campaign generated by Google Search Universal Adwords
Paris Hilton Handbag UK
Would you like to target people who regularly search for Paris Hilton after 9 oclock at night using a second hand apple Mac purchased in 2001 through eBay item number 1000334 under user name Del Trotter and listening to their ipod in the UK tick Yes/No?
Would this add campaign apply to those people in a semi detached house living in Norwich with 2 dogs a plasma television and who regularly watch Friends Yes/No?
Which income group should this add be applied to ?
- under 3 p per hour but has money obtained through inheritance following death of close relative back in 1995.
- Over 20k per year but current spending habits is excessive and Google predict breakdown of relationship with spouse.
- Million Plus Google prefers this option.
Update:
Elements of Google’s privacy policy are “vague” and need to be made more precise, the firm’s global privacy counsel has told BBC News.
Dan Horton
4 Comments | Leave a comment »
Dan,
What do you personally think about Google holding all this data? And what about when they say, “oh your ISP has *all* the data anyway”? And last time I checked, the anti-phising feature in IE7 reported/checks all the URLs against their white/black? list.
Is there any privacy left on the internet (has their ever been)? Do you think we shold even be bothered?
Adam
Adam,
My thoughts are that in the past its been such a grey area on privacy. ISPs are being pushed to retain their data longer while Google is being questioned on retaining it too long.
My feeling is that “Privacy” data is already being used to some extent but over the next few months we will see efforts to promote a feel good factor about its usage and push a level of “transparency” as to how this process will be monitored.
The information we search for and our online habits is valuable data and BIG MONEY.
Online privacy fears are a great way to make money and now there are so many privacy products to choose from it’s difficult to know where to start.
Need we worry? No, so long as you have firewall,anti virus, anti phishing anti spam, latest service packs, encryption, identity theft, hard disk eraser, windows cleaner, anti hijack,spy search anti trojan– all enabled on your pc
;0)
Dan,
Ha then my computer will just fall over (probably) ;)
I was thinking more of - it’s so far out of our hands why concern ourselves with it?
I don’t know what I personally believe, just throwing the ideas out here.
Obviously transpancy can only be a good thing for everyone but if a company such as Google used our search data most people probably wouldn’t even know/care about it (perhaps)?
Crazy times..
Hey Dan,
Google holding on to history without pii is not too big an issue for me. With pii is thd user’s choice.
I think the un addressed issue is for companies. Google is doing far more than just tracking individuals. With its code on some many sites, Google is building a mass of category specific information. here I elaborated a bit more on my take.
steve