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Google Profiling Social Network Users

Posted by CmdrTaco on from the well-of-course-they-are dept.

David Harry writes "Google is looking deeper into behavioral targeting of social network users with three more patents. A while back, one patent came to light in the poorly termed ‘friendrank’; Google could be profiling social network users. These three patents now bring the series to five in total."

11 of 96 comments (clear)

  1. Tired of amateur fliling? by InspectorxGadget · · Score: 5, Funny

    Profliling - coming soon to a fliling center near you!

  2. It never ceases to amaze me... by yttrstein · · Score: 5, Interesting

    How many people are genuinely surprised every time Google does anything to arouse suspicion (at least six times per day) or downright confirm (at least twice per week) that one of the major points to their monolithic presence in world--and not just the tech world--is data mining?

    I honestly don't understand. It's been quite clear for a number of years that Google has no problem selling jewels from their data mines to marketing clients who want them, mostly in the form of "targeted advertising".

    Of course Google is profiling social network users. Someone has to figure out what they want to buy.

    1. Re:It never ceases to amaze me... by veganboyjosh · · Score: 4, Insightful

      Someone has to tell them what they want to buy.

      Fixed that for you.

    2. Re:It never ceases to amaze me... by D+Ninja · · Score: 4, Interesting

      Someone has to tell them what they want to buy.

      Sort of a funny story I have pertaining to this.

      After my girlfriend broke up with me, we changed our Facebook status to "Single." The next day, I was on Facebook and I noticed an eHarmony advertisement that said the following:

      "27 and single? PATHETIC. Visit eHarmony.com to find singles in your area."

      It's funny now, but I sort of wonder what kind of world we live in where you're "pathetic" for not being in a relationship. That part is sort of sad, really.

  3. Not Alone by whisper_jeff · · Score: 4, Insightful

    If people think that Google is the only advertiser who's profiling people, they're daft. Any and every advertiser with a hint of intelligence studies their target audience and does everything within their power to know them better than they know themselves. Google just has more tools at their disposal than most advertising firms but they all do it.

  4. Data mining social networks by MosesJones · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Seriously, this is a surprise?

    The world's biggest commercial data search and profiling company is going to profile yet more online, public information.

    I just wonder if the folks at Langley will sit up and say "prior art".

    --
    An Eye for an Eye will make the whole world blind - Gandhi
  5. Google needs to revise their motto by i_want_you_to_throw_ · · Score: 5, Informative

    Do no evil? Hardly,... when Google became a publicly traded company their obligation became one thing..

    Make money for stockholders

    Few companies set out to do bad deeds but most won't rule them out. Google was supposed to be different. Regarding "Don't be evil"(tm), CEO Eric Schmidt recently clarified the policy saying that it was simply meant as a conversation starter.

    Here's Google from good to bad...
    Plus
    Creating a foundation to fight poverty.
    Plus
    Establishing on-site day care as an employee perk.
    Minus
    Giving Brazilian police access to private photo albums on Orkut to assist an investigation into child pornography.The lesser of two evils is still pretty lame
    Minus
    Google's on going smear campaign against Privacy International for giving them a last place rank.
    Bigger Minus
    Raising cost of on site day care to $57,000 per year.
    Real big minus
    Instituting keyword filters at the request of the Chinese government. Google's do no evil policy only applies to the U.S.
    Source: Wired 16.10

    Honestly why should anyone be surprised that Google acts like any other company?

    1. Re:Google needs to revise their motto by rtb61 · · Score: 4, Insightful

      To be fair, by far the majority of companies do not act in this fashion. They respect the privacy of their staff, they respect the privacy of their customers and of course they respect the privacy of total strangers. Only one very narrow segment of the industry continuously and very perversely invades the privacy of every one they can upon a massively and previously unheralded basis and think it is appropriate to attempt to psychologically manipulate people based upon their personal information in order to generate a profit at all costs.

      --
      Chaos - everything, everywhere, everywhen
    2. Re:Google needs to revise their motto by D+Ninja · · Score: 4, Interesting

      Google bashing, huh? Ooo, fun!

      Seriously, though. Your "evil" points are somewhat weak.

      Creating a foundation to fight poverty.

      I'll agree. That's a good thing. Although, some people will argue that they're just using it to get the tax breaks.

      Establishing on-site day care as an employee perk.

      You have that down as a plus. But, if I don't have kids, that means my benefits are going towards something I don't use. Sounds kind of evil to me.

      Giving Brazilian police access to private photo albums...

      Private? How so? Private as in Picasa's "private" where it just means you don't come up in searches (but if you know the address, you can still find the album)? Or private as in password protected, etc. Also, the albums that they were given access to - were these people already under investigation. Was Google forced to give that information?

      Google's on going smear campaign against Privacy International [google.com] for giving them a last place rank.

      I don't know this one, so I can't speak to it.

      Raising cost of on site day care to $57,000 per year.

      From what? $56,000? $0? Either way - how does this make them evil? Daycare is freaken expensive. I can't believe people use it to be honest. The fact that Google is charging someone for this is not a big deal. I don't know of any place that offers this sort of service at all.

      Instituting keyword filters at the request of the Chinese government. Google's do no evil policy only applies to the U.S.

      Oh, now, you had to go there. See, at the surface level, Google did evil. They filtered words. BAD GOOGLE! The problem is, if they didn't do that, they would have NO influence in China. What's worse? For them to get their foot in the door and follow protocol now and try to influence change later, or never be there in the first place? It's easier to influence from the inside than it is from the outside. Once Google becomes ubiquitous in China, they will carry a lot more sway. Hopefully that use that to help the people there.

      Anyway, your cynicism is definitely well-deserved - lots of companies screw up (because they are run by people and people screw up). But, I just can't say I agree with the issues that you chose (either way).

  6. Re:Profliling?? by goombah99 · · Score: 5, Funny

    Profiling? Sounds painful.

    Not if you use a profilactic, and remember boys, if she says "opt out" she means "opt out".

    More seriously, anyone who joins a social network wants to be profiled. Isn't that the whole point?

    --
    Some drink at the fountain of knowledge. Others just gargle.
  7. Profiling for Ads by paniq · · Score: 5, Funny

    I hope that all this uncomfortable profiling is really going to improve the ads I'm going to see.

    But how will I know when it works? Maybe when they start selling penis shrinking pills.

    --
    Do not trust this signature.