Microsoft's Consent-or-Die Patent

theodp writes "Maybe you shouldn't get too attached to those new Windows Live services. On Tuesday, the USPTO granted Microsoft a patent for privacy policy change notification, which describes how to threaten users with the loss of their accounts and access to web sites and services should they refuse to consent to changes in a privacy policy. This includes the case where a user might object to allowing personal information, collected earlier with a promise of confidentiality, to be shared in the future with third parties. Also described is a 'Never Notify Me' option so you won't have to 'worry' over privacy policy changes."

Comments

Me? Personally, I've caved, again and again.

[dpbsmith]

Remember how Amazon once had a very nice, simple, policy, something like "we never share any of your information with third parties." And then one fine day, they changed it to something "we'll share any information we have about you with third parties, but only with third parties that we think are really good and have something of real value to offer you."

I hate myself for it, but I've kept using Amazon because, well, darn it, they're convenient and inexpensive and efficient.

Dave Barry once commented that he now has to drive ten miles to buy anything, because he realized that over the years there wasn't a single business within ten miles of which he hadn't said at one time or another "I'll never patronize them again."

Re:Well, if you don't like the privacy policy...

[Phantom of the Opera]

Perhaps these people should think twice before relying on a service that they have no control over whatsoever. Like....
    * electric power
    * water
    * gas
    * police dept
    * fire dept
    * road repair

(ok, amend that to 'no significant amount of control')

You're missing the point.

[Anonymous Coward]

I think that you're missing the point. If there happens to be a service which you would like to use but you find that the terms are unacceptible then there are three things that you can do:

1) Put up with it. You get screwed, but you get the service. I

2) Quietly abstain from using the service. This is the option that you seem to advocate. You lose the service, the provider loses your patronage. In fact, everyone loses, but only a little bit, so it's better than option 1.

3) Complain loudly about it. This is what's happening here, and you seem to have a problem with it. Complaining is the same as abstaining, except with the chance that the terms of service will be changed because of your objections. Unless you're apathetic toward the situation, then this is actually the best option.

Re:Think of the adults!

[kebes]

You're viewing it from the point of view of "if these online services have onerous terms, just don't use them!" You're right, of course. But my cynical prediction is that most people will accept the onerous TOS, thereby validating the approach, and making such invasions of privacy accepted by the mainstream. You may say "who cares? Let those lemmings give away their privacy!" ... which is fine, were it not for the fact that it will have consequences even for those of us who object and refrain from using the services. Some (perhaps overly alarmist) possible consequences are:

1. The widespread usage of such systems desensitizes people to privacy abuse, and to corporations changing rules with little to no notification. The result is that it becomes accepted common practice, and the laws (or at least the application of law) become skewed towards accepting such things. So, even those of us who resisted the loss of privacy and control are nevertheless forced to give up privacy and control.
2. Online systems that trap user data hostage become so commonplace that you cannot "survive" without using them. That is, to do your job and to interact with other people online in the ways they "expect", you have to sign up for these services whether you like it or not. Yes, you can refrain from using them, but they become so deeply insinuated in the "common practice" of business and social networking that if you don't use them, you are at a disadvantage.

So, we can either sit on the sidelines, smug with the knowledge that we are not participating directly in the erosion of privacy and digital freedom... or we can proactively oppose any such system, by educating others about the potential dangers.

I'm not advocating nanny-state interference here, just proactive education, and publicly decrying privacy-infringing services.

Bicycle companies are cool

[dpbsmith]

They're some of the brightest, most original small businesses going. Makes you understand how the Wright Brothers came out of that environment.

My wife is a devotee of Terry Precision Cycling. It was started by a woman who couldn't find a bike to fit her. She happened to be a mechanical engineer, and the light bulb came on over her head. My wife's bike came with a homemade desktop-published manual that is among the very best manuals I've ever seen for any product whatsoever. The first time my wife had a slightly tricky technical question about her bike she used the "email us" contact link on the site and was, dare I say, thrilled when she got a long, detailed, helpful reply from Georgena [sic] Terry.

Another great example of brilliant self-publishing is Barnett's Bicycle Manual.

Take a look at Sheldon Brown's bicycle website for another great example of the true nerd spirit at its best.