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35 Million Google Profiles Collected

Posted by timothy on from the are-you-feeling-lucky dept.

Orome1 writes "If you are one of those individuals that made their own Google Profile, chances are that you knew and agreed to the fact that the information you included in it will be available for anyone who searches for it online. But, maybe you haven't thought about the possibility of this information being harvested and indexed in order to make mining of it easier. Whether you have or not, it is ultimately irrelevant — you have shared the information with Google, and it does not forbid the indexing of the list."

9 of 151 comments (clear)

  1. Why wouldn't you? by sarahbau · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Why wouldn't you think about the possibility of the information being harvested? That's a main part of Google's business model.

    1. Re:Why wouldn't you? by adisakp · · Score: 5, Insightful

      If you're not paying for a service, then you are the product being sold.

    2. Re:Why wouldn't you? by doti · · Score: 4, Insightful

      If I didn't want the data available to the world, I wouldn't put it there in the first place.

      Duh..

      --
      factor 966971: 966971
  2. more slimy facebook pr firm smear work? by Dan667 · · Score: 4, Insightful

    http://www.thedailybeast.com/blogs-and-stories/2011-05-12/facebook-busted-in-clumsy-smear-attempt-on-google/

  3. Well, by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Insightful

    I'm glad no one started harvesting any of my Facebook Profile.

  4. Welcome to the Post Privacy Age by jarich · · Score: 3, Insightful

    We've allowed our bed to be made. Now will we continue to use services that require us to give up our privacy while we complain loudly at the loss of privacy? Come on everyone. Pick one.

    --
    Agile Artisans
  5. That's kinda the point by shutdown+-p+now · · Score: 4, Insightful

    What is the point of creating a Google Profile if not for it to be indexed such as someone else can find you and read about you in relevant queries?

  6. This is why I made my Google profile!! by sanchom · · Score: 4, Insightful

    That's the point of a Google profile! To let people more easily find you. I would certainly hope that they allow indexing of this information.
    Why would you want a private profile? Like Creed from The Office, I can make a private profile with Microsoft Word.

  7. Ahem. by blair1q · · Score: 4, Insightful

    The Internet is not secure.