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Google Profiling Social Network Users
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."
Profliling - coming soon to a fliling center near you!
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.
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?
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.
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.