This was sent round the agency last week and it scared the beejeezus out of me. I'm quite glad I never did get a gmail account although I was intrigued by the whole invite only thing. Now they have opened this service up to the world but do they really live up to their 'Don't be Evil' mantra? I'm interested in your thoughts on this, Jonathan, Simon and Rachel, as you are the only ones I know who use it. Check out the video here
Saturday, February 17, 2007
google domination
This was sent round the agency last week and it scared the beejeezus out of me. I'm quite glad I never did get a gmail account although I was intrigued by the whole invite only thing. Now they have opened this service up to the world but do they really live up to their 'Don't be Evil' mantra? I'm interested in your thoughts on this, Jonathan, Simon and Rachel, as you are the only ones I know who use it. Check out the video here
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i saw something similar to this a couple of years ago that was linking google as the company that would begin tracking all things and all mankind by merging with other companies like ebay, amazon, and other data driven behavioral sites. yeah - it scares the hell out of me - but i think that 'big brother' is something we all are going to have to face at some point in our lives. i don't think there really is anything we can do about it - that is unless we want to turn off all of our beloved electronics and go back to libraries to research in those - what do you call them again - oh yeah - books. hell - even blogger - the engine that powers this very blog - is owned by google: to google - 'hey fellas - like what you are reading so far?'
our world in changing - being in the 'biz' - we're seeing daily challenges to things in the us constitution as it pertains to copyright and user/creative rights all because of the syndication power of the internet. the world's governments are going to have to completely start thinking in new directions to keep up with the ever-growing world wide web - i just think the world wide web is moving a lot faster than the government.
Thanks for the link. I watched and it is scary but in all reality the internet has the same type of problem. I do know that they have fought not to reveal google searches to the US Govt and the Chinese Govt. However, it is useful for storing innoculous documents and now photos. I will continue to use it but will be careful. You do know that blogger is not attached to gmail? I log into gmail and can access my blog as well.
I'm definitely interested in the Google approach. Seeing that they are perceived by most as simply a search engine. The family of Google products is now vast and filled with extremely powerful tools. The share of knowledge is great and is what the internet is all about. What worries me is how Google stores all this information and how this data can and is being used. For me I don't really care who reads my blog as it contains nothing of significance. However, my personal emails I do not want scanned. And I also do not want my DNA stored on file (although it probably already is). Google is fast becoming the most powerful organization in the world and "with great power comes great responsibility". Are we being lured in to a wonderful free Web 2.0 world with the promise of greatness only to have our civil liberties slowly stripped from us at the same time.
There was a lot of concern over Google Desktop (essentially a google search running on your pc/mac) - but here you can control whether the search is truly local or uses Googles server farm (in which case your pc files are potentially copied to google). Obviously a good thing to turn off. On the topic of mail, I think it would be naive to believe that any web-based email is in any way secure. Though the technology is different, I think yahoo mail and hotmail will also be scanned, or at least could be, by their respective 'owners'.
Not meaning to sound like a smart-ass, but you have to assume everything on your computer is at risk - the best approach I know of (and use) is to always store info I consider 'important' encrypted with PGP. This would work for email as well, but you'd need your core network of contacts to also have PGP certificates (sure you know all about this). It's still not 100% secure because of filthy spyware type nonsense but its the best approach I know (without giving up the computer altogether!).
So, yes, its definitely concerning - but as with any tool you need to understand the limitations - and then decide how you are comfortable using it.
So simon, those pics of you dancing the Lambada naked with a blow up doll is encrypted. PHEW!!!!
I'm frightened Auntie Em , I'm frightened !
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