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Google Privacy Quickies

Posted by kdawson on from the get-over-it dept.

Several notes about Google and privacy. First, Lucas123 informs us that Google's global privacy counsel blogged about an improvement in Google's data-retention policies: the company plans to anonymize data it stores about users after 18 months — a slight improvement on the "18 to 24 months" of the previous policy. This move may have come as a response to pressure from European regulators. Next, Spamicles sends in word that an EFF attorney has been photographed by Google's Street View. The funny thing is, this isn't the first time it's happened. Finally, word from reader tamar that if you choose to share a video from Google Video to another social network like MySpace, your username and password get sent over http in plaintext, rather than the more secure https.

5 of 76 comments (clear)

  1. Photographed in public? Oh well! by DrEldarion · · Score: 5, Insightful

    When will people learn that they shouldn't do things in public that they don't want people to see? It's PUBLIC. If you have something you want to hide, then by god don't do it in plain view of everyone!

    1. Re:Photographed in public? Oh well! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Insightful

      When will people learn that they shouldn't do things in public that they don't want people to see? It's PUBLIC. If you have something you want to hide, then by god don't do it in plain view of everyone!

      Thing is, this "don't do anything in public" schtick keeps expanding. First, it was "anything on your property", then it was "anything in your house", now it's "anything anywhere someone might have snuck a camera". Last I checked, only most states ban companies from filming you on the toilet.

  2. Is it posted? by gravesb · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Is the privacy policy posted? So anyone who uses Google has the ability to find out how their information will be retained? And they use it anyway? What's the problem? Google doesn't provide an essential service. If you don't like the policy, don't use it. If enough people stop using it, they'll change their policy. Google isn't the government. Once you provide them with information, they have every right to retain it. Personally, I don't think their privacy policy is bad, so I use Google. However, there are other options out there.

    --
    http://bgcommonsense.blogspot.com
  3. Greater Threat by NaCh0 · · Score: 5, Insightful

    I think the greater threat to liberty are the people who want to outlaw taking photographs in public.

    As an amateur photographer, it scares me to think I will eventually need to be licensed to carry my Nikon if these "privacy" nazis get their way.

  4. Re:Quickies? by VinB · · Score: 2, Insightful

    Best way to start the day. Whoo hoo!