Big Google is watching

[enjay]

An accident does not continue for several years until a government intervenes and points out what's been going on.

 

If they hadn't intended on capturing it, it could well have taken until someone pointed it out before they realised they had even done it...

 

How long, for example, have some of us stored illegal MP3 content on our networks and backups without realising it? It is only if you go looking for these things that you would find them. Of course, we are aware of the possibility of illegal MP3s on our networks, so we look for them and find them - and even then, it can takes weeks or months. Google, however, were not aware they were capturing the data, so how/why would you expect them to have found find it?

Edited May 17, 2010 by enjay

[jamesb]

If they hadn't intended on capturing it, it could well have taken until someone pointed it out before they realised they had even done it...

 

I suspect it's more of the Buzz situation. "Oh, we didn't realise that people might not be comfortable with us doing that, it was an accident, we're sorry."

 

And again, what exactly did they think the data was? Any normal company going around, doing this without telling anyone would've been condemned by now. I don't see what's so different about google, just because they have a history of getting away with ignoring privacy (and copyright).

 

They've already demonstrated a willingness to flout the law with regards to copyright, and to tread as close as they can on privacy, waiting until people complain before correcting their behaviour. That is not how a responsible company should act.

[enjay]

And again, what exactly did they think the data was?

 

Did they even know they had it?

[jamesb]

Did they even know they had it?

 

I'd be very surprised if they didn't. They are an advertising company focussed on data collection, targeted advertising and personal profiling after all. I'd be very surprised if they could misplace data.

[enjay]

They are an advertising company focussed on data collection, targeted advertising and personal profiling after all.

 

They might not have looked back through all the data they had yet, bearing in mind they would first have focussed on the images and such like which is what they'd been doing in the first place. Maybe it would have come to light later, or maybe they knew about it and dismissed it since they weren't going to use it.

 

Unless of course you're suggesting that Google intentionally tried to capture the WiFi from my house, worked out what I'm interested in, coupled this with my address and use the combined data to serve me targeted ads about local events which might interest me? Seriously?!

[mossj]

liking the anologies...

 

How about this one

 

It's like buying a microphone with two settings, it's default one which is to only talk to people you know and trust, and one which talks to everyone in your street. You turn it to the second option on the basis it's easier and complain when people hear you....

 

I don't think I've ever seen a wireless point that wasn't defaulting to secured (even if it's just WEP)