Tuesday, February 14, 2006

Google and the End of Privacy

I'm not particularly fond of Google or their business model; but I make it a point to discuss them every once in a while and chronicle their eventual domination of the world and end privacy. A couple of days ago Google released Google Desktop 3.0 with a significant change. It now provides users with the ability to store their hard drive index on the Google Grid. This of course provides the convenience of being able to search your hard drive index from a remote computer; say you want to search your office computer from home. Although that might be very convenient for some; me included. Google is touching on a sensitive privacy subject; perhaps ending privacy completely. Compare their old statement: “These combined results can be seen only from your own computer; your computer’s content is never sent to Google (or anyone else).” With their explanation of "search across computers" feature.

In order to share your indexed files between your computers, we first copy this content to Google Desktop servers located at Google. This is necessary, for example, if one of your computers is turned off or otherwise offline when new or updated items are indexed on another of your machines. We store this data temporarily on Google Desktop servers and automatically delete older flies, and your data is never accessible by anyone doing a Google search.

Not evil enough? How does the idea of a Gmail hosted service sound like? Yes Google is running a limited public beta of this service. Indexing the content of your Gmail was not enough; Google seeks to index your corporate email too! More on the Gmail blog And the rumor mill keeps on going. Google are to launch an AJAX based WYSIWYG web page editor, a new calendar built into Gmail, Wifi in major cities. It seems Google is going at it in everyway. They're even branching out to traditional media. And have recently acquired dMarc, a radio advertising broker for $102 million dollars, and will shell out an extra $1 billion if they sell enough advertising, with TV advertising in the horizon. So what does Google know about you? Your searches, browsing pattern, email contents, Gtalk conversations (speech2text), my social network (Gtalk and Orkut), desktop content, blog contents, appointments, and location. What you listen to on Radio and what you watch on TV. I wouldn't be surprised if they acquire podscope in the near future to index what podcasts I listen to. All of this is used to serve me the best targeted Adsense Ads possible. All of this available to agencies like the FBI, CIA, etc. Ten days ago, an article in Business Week caught my attention, the author described Google as a race car driver with dreams of the checkered flag, but until his debut on the NASCAR circuit, he pays the bills by trolling the back alleys behind the wheel of a cab and I cannot agree more. Now I wonder when will someone rise up and stop them, or are we to wait for the apocalypse and await a new future where Google's monopoly out shadow’s Microsoft's. Digg It Related Links: EPIC 2014 Google Desktop Reloaded Gilmor Daily A New Desktop

21 comments:

Omar said...

man, i totally agree with you, i mean, there are millions of other features google can offer to increase their business but rather, they go into all the private issues, and by the way it's not just google...everyone heard the last scandle conserning privacy in the united states.

Anonymous said...

I think that Google are gambling what they have, IMHO I get a feeling that they either want to have it all, or nothing at all.

Instead of trying to achieve a sustainable steady growth, they are trying to have an exponential growth, and will probably end up out growing themselves. Trying to be no.1 in every service is unacheivable, for an example Google Video, a service that was admitted to be poorly designed.

If they keep going like this, I think we are gonna have a Google bubble sometime over the next couple of years.

Anonymous said...

nevermind the legally binding privacy statements and google's refusal to let the government see their search data, how about just not using it? problem solved.

Anonymous said...

Isn't this like discussing America's obesity problem over a dinner at McDonald's? I mean, google owns this site, right? The one you're writing on and I'm commenting on?

Yeah, the whole thing kinda creeps me out, too. So I only do a limited number of things with google. But their mail service really does beat the pants off everything else out there, so I'm gonna keep using it. And their map service too. I mean, has anyone tried comparing it to yahoo's or mapquest's lately? No contest, IMO.

But for as neat as blogger is, I'm run MT on my own site. And as neat as picasa may be, I don't want them indexing my pics. And as neat as the desktop may be, I just make a point to save things in a structural way that makes sense to me, so I can find them easily enough later.

Bitching is fine and good, but if you really want to see change, propose an alternative, or better yet, make it happen.

Oh, and sorry about the anonymous cowardice, but I don't have or want a blogger acct. If you want to write back and tell me what a dumbass I am, my mail is puckylunk. I'm sure you can guess the rest. :)

Anonymous said...

best site

Anonymous said...

best site

Anonymous said...

best site

Anonymous said...

best site

Anonymous said...

Travel Information Udaipur,
Tourist Palces in Udaipur, Tourist Places india,Places to see Udaipur,
Transport Udaipur,How to reach Udaipur,
Hotel Information Udaipur, Hotels Udaipur,
Food Junction Udaipur, Restaurants Udaipur,
Shopping in Udaipur ,
History of Udaipur,
People of Udaipur,Culture of Udaipur,
Important Contacts Udaipur,
Udaipur Weather,
How to Reach Udaipur ,
Hospitals in Udaipur,

Anonymous said...

Mehendi, Henna Herbs,
Henna Plant,Lawsonia Inermis,
smooth lawsonia, lythraceae plants wholesale, al-khanna, al-henna, jamaica mignonette, indian henna leaves,
Black Henna,red Henna,
Natural Henna,herbal plants exporters, herb plants, herb seeds,
Bridal Importance, Mehendi Desigens ,
Importance of Mehendi,Henna ,
traditional medicine henna, Henna as Medicine,
henna plant, lawsonia inermis, mehndi henna,
Ayurvedic henna,
Ayurvedic henna, Mehendi use ,
henna plant, lawsonia inermis, mehndi henna ,

Anonymous said...

Travel Information Jaisalmer,
Tourist Palces in Jaisalmer, Tourist Places india,Places to see Jaisalmer,
Transport Jaisalmer,How to reach Jaisalmer,
Hotel Information Jaisalmer, Hotels Jaisalmer,
Food Junction Jaisalmer, Restaurants Jaisalmer,
Shopping in Jaisalmer ,
History of Jaisalmer,
People of Jaisalmer,Culture of Jaisalmer,
Important Contacts Jaisalmer,
Jaisalmer Weather,
How to Reach Jaisalmer ,
Hospitals in Jaisalmer,
Travelling tips Jaisalmer,

Anonymous said...

Travel Information Lucknow,
Tourist Palces in Lucknow, Tourist Places india,Places to see lucknow,
Transport lucknow,How to reach Lucknow,
Hotel Information Lucknow, Hotels Lucknow,
Food Junction Lucknow, Restaurants Lucknow,
Shopping in Lucknow ,
History of Lucknow,Awadh Rouls ,
People of Lucknow,Culture of Lucknow,
Important Contacts Lucknow,
Lucknow Weather,
How to Reach Lucknow ,
Hospitals in Lucknow,
Travelling Rips Lucknow,

Anonymous said...

Travel Information Varanasi,
Tourist Palces in Varanasi, Tourist Places india,Places to see Varanasi,
Transport Varanasi,How to reach Varanasi,
Hotel Information Varanasi, Hotels Varanasi,
Food Junction Varanasi, Restaurants Varanasi,
Shopping in Varanasi ,
History of Varanasi,
People of Varanasi,Culture of Varanasi,
Important Contacts Varanasi,
Varanasi Weather,
How to Reach Varanasi ,
Hospitals in Varanasi,
Travelling Rips Varanasi,

Anonymous said...

Travel Information agra,
Tourist Palces in agra, Tourist Places india,Places to see agra,
Transport agra,How to reach agra,
Hotel Information agra, Hotels agra,
Food Junction agra, Restaurants agra,
Shopping in agra ,
History of agra,
People of agra,Culture of agra,
Important Contacts agra,
agra Weather,
How to Reach agra ,
Hospitals in agra,
Travelling tips agra,

Anonymous said...

Travel Information ajmer,
Tourist Palces in ajmer, Tourist Places india,Places to see ajmer,
Transport ajmer,How to reach ajmer,
Hotel Information ajmer, Hotels ajmer,
Food Junction ajmer, Restaurants ajmer,
Shopping in ajmer ,
History of ajmer,
People of ajmer,Culture of ajmer,
Important Contacts ajmer,
ajmer Weather,
How to Reach ajmer ,
Hospitals in ajmer,
Travelling tips ajmer,

Anonymous said...

Travel Information allahabad,
Tourist Palces in allahabad, Tourist Places india,Places to see allahabad,
Transport allahabad,How to reach allahabad,
Hotel Information allahabad, Hotels allahabad,
Food Junction allahabad, Restaurants allahabad,
Shopping in allahabad ,
History of allahabad,
People of allahabad,Culture of allahabad,
Important Contacts allahabad,
allahabad Weather,
How to Reach allahabad ,
Hospitals in allahabad,
Travelling tips allahabad,

Anonymous said...

strap ons sex toys strap ons sex toys
vibrating panties vibrating panties
Rechargeables Beaded Butterfly Vibrator Rechargeables Beaded Butterfly Vibrator
Fun Factory Sinnflut Intensity Strawberry Vibrator Fun Factory Sinnflut Intensity Strawberry Vibrator
Silicone Ultra Flashing Crystal Bunny Silicone Ultra Flashing Crystal Bunny
Magic Spots Decadent Magic Spots Decadent
Dreamboat G-Spot Vibrator Dreamboat G-Spot Vibrator
Sex Toys Sex Toys

online generic viagra said...

I totally agree with your post.Thanks for sharing such kind of post.

Penis Enlargement Pills said...

Really you have done great job,There are may person searching about that now they will find enough resources by your post.I like this blog..

viagra in india said...

Wow, nice post,there are many person searching about that now they will find enough resources by your post.Thank you for sharing to us.Please one more post about that..

viagra said...

Hi! Thanks so much for taking the time to share your post; this posting has evoked the most response.