Google - Privacy and other issues

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bdw

  • #1
    A lot of stories have surfaced during the last few months about Google and privacy issues. I thought it would be a good idea if we documented some of these here to see exactly where they are heading.

    Just today another story broke over in Webmasterworld about their takeover of ITA Software Inc.

    (Reuters) - The U.S. Justice department is looking into Google Inc's takeover of airline ticketing software firm ITA Software Inc, to determine whether the deal would exert too much influence on the online travel industry, the Wall Street Journal said.
    Click to expand...

    ITA Software powers several major travel portals including Expedia, Tripadvisor and Travelocity.

    In Webmaster world someone posted this
    Due to Department of Homeland Security requirements, you are responsible to give the booking software your date of birth, email address, IP address, address, phone number, and in some cases your social security number.

    Google now has access to this data to build intrinsic personal profiles of every user of the ITA software when combined with their online data.

    Additonal information, Google can now collect about you.

    •Full Name which matches the form of ID used for the travel (required)
    •Itinerary (required)
    •Date of Birth (required)
    •Gender (required)
    •Redress Number (optional)
    •Passport # for international itineraries (required)
    Click to expand...

    Scary stuff and getting scarier every day.

    Previous threads ... http://www.ukbusinessforums.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=168971
     
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    chief07

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  • #3
    Though i'd just add the Google - Verizon deal to this thread, the story of the deal to end 'net neutrality' and create a premier tier internet lane which delivers content fater to sites that are willing to pay for it.
    Interesting site in the first post as well
     
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    maxh

    maxh

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  • #5
    Google collect personal data about you....so what?

    What can they actually do with it?

    Target ads at you? "aww nooo, relevent adverts about things i'm interested in nooo"

    Supermarkets have been doing that for years. Remember loyalty cards? Tonnes and tonnes of data about where you buy, what you buy and when you buy! What do they do with that?

    Target offers at you which benefit you. They improve their services around you.

    So what?!
     
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    gordano

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  • #8
    Google owning ITA booking software and having access to booking data from companies that use the software such as Expedia are two different things?

    I agree that Google is getting more data to help them target their marketing. For me it is not an issue unless they hold personal data that confirms an identity (such as that for travel bookings); should Google ever get such data hacked then there would be a major issue of individuals being exposed to identity fraud.
     
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    D

    Dawg

  • #9
    Post #1 says that Google are required by law to collect that info. What is scarier: a bunch of bureaucrats mangling through your data, cocking up like only government bureautwats can, or a private company which will sink if it messes with it's punters?

    Still, nothing like a good conspiracy scare, (although this is nothing like a good conspiracy scare.)

    Now, while I fasten the yoghurt buckle to my tinfoil tam o'shatner, (Star Trek edition): Did Google kill Princess Di?
     
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    E

    Esk247

  • #11
    its only a problem if they SELL the data or have there systems hacked.

    the most problematic is the selling of data, even the government seem to be doing this and THAT is when it becomes an issue as you dont know who they've sold the info to!

    telecoms companies do that a lot, when you sign up with one you get bombarded with special offers from companies you've never heard of.
     
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    D

    Dawg

  • #13
    bdw said:
    This is not a conspiracy scare. It's not a conspiracy. It's a fact that is very much evident to all but the very innocent.
    Click to expand...

    I thought you'd come back with drivel like that. The Google executives who are in charge of the company that is meant to be taking over our lives are all acting independently than? It is mere chance that the random decisions they are making are coming together in a fashion which is a threat to our liberties? Gor Blimey.

    But I plead guilty to being an innocent. Innocent of taking comfort in sad little 'they're out to get me' fantasies. Innocent of being frightened of change. Innocent of thinking everyone who disagrees is naive, or innocent. (Jeez even Dingbat makes some good points...) And hopefully innocent of being a Loch Dour Monster.
     
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    Dawg

  • #15
    bdw said:
    You are not innocent Dawg but you are both offensive and tiresome. Can't you discuss anything without resorting to insults like this?
    Click to expand...

    And your statements such as "It's a fact that is very much evident to all but the very innocent." are not insulting?
    You basically say, and have done many times, that people who disagree with you are innocent or naive; terms which are as insulting as any I use.
    You just don't like it up you, do you? Anyone who has the temerity to have a pop back in anything but the blandest language has you squealing about being insulted, or being reported to the mods or whinged about.
    Well pot, kettle Mr Worldly Wise-Fnar. And if you write drivel I'll call it drivel. Or should that be when you write...
    Now dribble off and report me to the Big Boys.
     
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    estwig

    estwig

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  • #21
    bdw said:
    More bad publicity ...

    http://www.scmagazineuk.com/google-...counts/article/178915/?DCMP=EMC-SCUK_Newswire
    Click to expand...

    Their gonna get ya!!!!!!!!!!

    3.gif
     
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    ecenica

    ecenica

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    May 26, 2010
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  • #24
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    Dawg

  • #26
    "Other tech firms including Apple have also been asked to collaborate on a voluntary privacy charter for geographical services"

    Thats from Teh Reg link above. Are Apple and the other unnamed tech firms on the bogeyman list too?

    Note to other readers: The Register story is about a voluntary code of conduct in Germany, a country which you may remember has had historical problems with data collection.

    Eine Biene in Ihrer Mütze?
     
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    stugster

    stugster

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    Feb 1, 2007
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  • #27
    Careful M... Did you use Google to translate that? They now hold that information and can target you next time with honey products.

    In all seriousness though, Google's not something one should be scared about. They're good guys. If you're worried about your personal data, just don't log onto the Internet in the morning. Keep the curtains drawn. Keep the door locked.
     
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    ecenica

    ecenica

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  • #28
    I think this is referring to how Apple Inc uses GPS enabled devices to send basic wi-fi data back to Apple HQ. This info is then used to locate non-gps enabled devices. Like my iPad.

    Only know this as I was baffled how my non-gps iPad knew where I was. I couldn't fathom how it matched my wi-fi so accurately. Especially as my home router is hidden, and not linked to my address.

    From what I gather, any Apple iPhone or iPad user with an onboard GPS chip are passively sending information back about local wi-fi connections.

    So as you walk to your local shop and back, Apple collects information about what wi-fi routers around and uses "public" (?) info for their own purposes.

    I see no harm in using public hotspots like BtOpenZones but undecided is it should be monitoring private routers.

    What do you think?

    Quick search pulled this link;

    http://features.techworld.com/netwo...-car-incident-wifi-data-collection-continues/

    ^R.
     
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    B

    bdw

  • #29
    In all seriousness though, Google's not something one should be scared about. They're good guys.
    Click to expand...
    As soon as they floated they stopped being good guys. Corporate policy and "good guys" don't fit.

    Look, I am not saying that Google are looking in your window or dipping your bank account but there are serious concerns with the way they operate. They are constantly pushing the legal boundaries to see what they can get away with and there is plenty of evidence of that. They do stuff that other companies would have been jailed for ten years ago.

    I do not credit myself with enough intelligence to know exactly what they are doing or the risks involved to the general public and I don't lie awake worrying about it. However, I do know that there are people that are far more clever than me who have concerns. That is my concern.
     
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    Dawg

  • #31
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    bdw

  • #33
    The UK Information Commissioner's office is going to reinvestigate the Google Streetview problem. The ICO had earlier cleared Google of any misdemeanour but it now emerges that Google had actually collected people's email addresses and passwords.

    "The commissioner has to ask a critical question of Google: why wasn't it apparent in May 2010 that the cars had gathered full emails, URLs and passwords? Precisely what changed between May and October 2010?"

    http://www.scmagazineuk.com/ico-set...t-view/article/181648/?DCMP=EMC-SCUK_Newswire

    .
     
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    ecenica

    ecenica

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  • #35
    Read somewhere Google could be fined £500,000 for this data-breach.

    For a company with a market-value just shy of $200 billion it's not much of a penalty.

    Google are now assuring us their 23,000 staff will undergo privacy training and impose stricter compliance standards.

    I wonder what's next? - "Whoops our street cars accidentally harvested bank login and passwords."

    With such a small workforce in the UK, most of their EU staff are in Ireland and Switzerland - maybe it's time for The Coalition to place a nice fat, deficit-reducing tax on Google? :)
     
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    E

    Esk247

  • #37
    It's the same as the MicroSoft saga. These companies are beyond borders and beyond government control. They're global entities and they operate with such pace and efficiency that the slow and awkward state legal teams cannot do anything about them. Trying to pin anything dodgy on Google and making it stick is like trying build a time machine..it just doesn't happen.
     
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    Esk247

  • #38
    stugster said:
    I think what's happening to Google is very unfair.



    This hits the nail on the head.

    If people are happy to leave their front doors wide open they should take it on the chin.
    Click to expand...

    but then Google and other organisations may use the usual 'if you have done nothing wrong, you have nothing to fear' slogan << governments use this successfully to intrude on our every day lives.

    I'm more concerned with the talk of databanks, storing every piece of detail we search for on the net, all of our emails, everything. We all know the government love handing over or losing our details...even MI5 do it a few times a month.
     
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    directmarketingadvice

    directmarketingadvice

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  • #39
    ecenica said:
    I wonder what's next? - "Whoops our street cars accidentally harvested bank login and passwords."
    Click to expand...

    Are you suggesting that Google would then use that data to transfer money into Google's coffers?

    I'm with vvaannmmaann and Stu on this: unless Google are using super-duper equipment to read the wifi data, this story is more about the lack of wifi security than about Google.

    Steve
     
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