Slashdot Mirror
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."
The problem with international standards for privacy is that some cultures have to give up the privacy rights, and right now, it is too early to attempt an international solution until we know locally what we want our rights to be.
We Americans might decry European standards and European "bureacracy", but they are Europe's to define. Similarly, whatever consensus we come to about privacy in the USA is our consensus. Until Europeans and Americans nail down what their rights and standards are, it makes little sense to try and adopt an international framework.
This is my sig.
will be defined as broadly (for Google, etc.) as possible. You won't recognize it after they're done, and you won't have any recourse because it's the "international standard" -- just like copyright restrictions.
Dog is my co-pilot.
"If we can't index it, it's private... until we figure out how to index it."
I won't go into the issues surrounding [Any Corporation] pushing for a change in not just national laws, but international laws. Suffice it to say that it isn't something I like.
[Fuck Beta]
o0t!
Now we shall see the slow opening of what's been happening for years. Corporations telling governments what to do, and getting it. Google is no different than any other corp, except they are laying their cards out on the table for all to see.
"Governments of the world...this is what we want you to do (because it will help our bottom line)", instead of the standard backroom deals.
If Google, a company whose main business model is to know everything about everyone, thinks that the European privacy laws are 'too bureaucratic and inflexible', the EU commission and the European parliament must be doing something right.
We need a new word for this, because really it isn't the people controlling government controlling corporations, no, government and corporation are now more or less the same thing.
Fascism comes to mind.
Infuriate left and right
Who do you trust more, Google or the government you live under? That is the root question.
My government, without hesitation.
And believe me, that's really saying something.
If you disagree, post your argument. (-1, Overrated) isn't your personal censorship tool for views you don't like.
When you have an international standard, everything you need to do is clear and straightforward. What Google wants is a standard they can apply universally rather than having to worry about breaking the law when someone in a very privacy-protective country accesses a system designed for a region with less-stringent requirements.
This is obvious, and people are overreacting.