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Google Calls for International Privacy Standards
HairyNevus writes "The Washington Post has an article detailing Google's request for international privacy standards. Google is taking this matter all the way to the U.N., arguing that a hodge-podge of privacy law unnecessarily burdens Internet-based companies while also failing to protect consumers. Although Google is currently under investigation by the EU for its privacy practices, the company claims it has been a crusader for protecting consumer privacy. Google's privacy counsel Peter Fleischer called America's privacy laws 'too complex and too much of a patchwork,' and the European Union's laws 'too bureaucratic and inflexible.' The alternative? Something closer to the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation's framework which 'balances very carefully information privacy with business needs and commercial interests', according to Fleischer."
Who do you trust more, Google or the government you live under? That is the root question.
There have been many recent breeches of information security in government and corporate computers. (esp. banking/credit/health sectors) Does a company like Google, who's bread and butter is information, have a naturally more trustable position from the end-user's perspective? Is it possible for Google to create a firewall to protect users from all data intrusion?
Google briefly had a market cap higher than Lockheed. They represent much more than just a search engine.
Josh
gigantino.tv - Heavy but weighs nothing.
I've always taken Google at their word of "do no evil". For an American company, they do seem to really care about the consumer.
It is dangerous to be right when the government is wrong.
If the owners of a business don't posess enough common sense and concept of decency to protect their users, then they don't deserve and should not be permitted to run the business - no matter their corporate might! As posted on our news page, all that is required is that web portals finally start putting the well being of their users ahead of their shareholders because the silent majority of people will soon tire of being fodder for generally worthless 'advertising' that often relies upon breaches of our most sacred asset. And another point, with all the amazing technology and intellectual capital out there, isn't it about time that the industry begins to devise alternative methods with which to monotise their services? Thinking never hurt anyone. /Rant over. Let the common sense begin!
O'WONDERWe're working on it.
Google calling for privacy. GOOGLE!!! The guys who are keeping a huge data mine on anyone who uses their services...
This is as funny as "Don't be evil"! Google just spews propaganda, and techies lap it up like good little doggies. And as long as they can entertain the masses with Microsoft execs throwing chairs and phony gestures to the FOSSie MS-hater community, they can keep growing that data mine bigger, and bigger, and bigger. Oh, and let's not forget about how much help they are giving to China's efforts to suppress their citizenry!
Don't be evil... soothing words for gullible sheep!
This is obvious, and people are overreacting. No shit it's obvious, which is exactly why people are "overreacting".
Here are the only possible scenarios:
A) International standards are made consistent with the countries that have the highest levels of privacy protection
B) International standards are made consistent with the countries that have the lowest levels of privacy protection
C) International standards are set somewhere between A & B
Now whatever answer you pick, countries are going to get screwed:
A) Low standard countries have to pay lots of money to meet the highest standards
B) Citizens of countries with high standards get the shaft as standards are lowered
C) A combination of A & B
[Fuck Beta]
o0t!