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Scott McNealy On Privacy

Posted by michael on from the pouring-flaming-oil-on-troubled-waters dept.

howardjp writes: "Scott McNealy's editorial, The Case Against Absolute Privacy", appeared in this morning's edition of the Washington Post. He seems to think keeping records on the public is a good idea..." McNealy is famous for his "You have zero privacy anyway, get over it" quote.

3 of 224 comments (clear)

  1. Scott: Money, mouth, put it. by Platinum+Dragon · · Score: 5

    Dear Mr. McNealy:

    It seems you think we should be willing to give up privacy for convenience.

    To that end, please publish your home address, all phone numbers you can be reached at, your bank account balance, all credit cards you have and their limits, your Social Security number, all of the websites you've visited over the past 9 days, and everything you've purchased using anything but cash in the last 2 years. Please be sure to provide timely updates to the above information, as well as any additional information I request, so I can conveniently ask you important questions and inform you of exciting offers on a regular basis.

    Please do this willingly, so I don't have to go running around, collecting the information covertly using cookies, purchased databases, "tracking" software, and other data-mining techniques. It's so much easier providing for your convenience when all the information I might need is at my fingertips, whether you really like it or not. After all, we have no privacy, and we should get over it, right? Or does that not apply to you?

    --

    Someday, you're going to die. Get over it.
  2. You are Number Six by bill.sheehan · · Score: 5
    What Mr. McNeally seems to miss is that while I would like it if my computer kept track of my taste in movies, etc. and gave me recommendations based on that, I really don't want that information to be on your computer, to be used for purposes neither known nor sanctioned by me.
    "Ladies and gentlemen of the jury, the defendant before you may look quiet and unassuming, but that is merely a cunning disguise. He is, in fact, a homicidal sociopath. We've seen computer records that prove he regularly buys murder mysteries and watches slasher movies..."

    Human being. Do not bend, spindle, or mutilate.

  3. Re:Some Good Points by AMuse · · Score: 5

    The problem with that is that there are perfectly reasonable, non paranoid scenarios in which you do NOT want your information aggregated. Using the doubleclick example:

    Customer X-35213-54388 purchased speaker racks and green paint for a 1989 Mazda Miata, using static IP addres 123.456.789.101 - they used to live in Minnesota but made this purchase and all recent ones from CA.

    John Q. Doe has registered, on the next day, a Green 1989 Mazda Miata in CA after having moved from Minnesota.

    Static DSL IP 123.456.789.101 purchased some online porn.

    Add in DoubleClick's info-aggregating and every other site you visit relates everything you've done online to:

    John Q. Doe
    123 Fnord Ave
    San Mateo, CA, 12345
    SSN: 123-33-4567

    No, thanks. I'm trying to keep most of that info, especially SSN, to myself and not the skript kidz that hack the companys' website.
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