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German Pranksters Spoof Google Nest At Tech Conference
phmadore writes: "Some clever German pranksters managed to put one over on a sect of the intelligentsia just the other day. In this 30-minute presentation (video) at the re:publica 2014 tech conference, activists going under the pseudonyms of Paul von Ribbeck and Gloria Spindle presented four new (and moderately credible) Google products making up the 'Google Nest': Google Trust, Google Hug, Google Bee, and Google Bye. 'We can't really guarantee that we protect your information, but we can do our very best to protect you,' says Spindle about eight minutes in. Google is reportedly rather upset about the whole affair. The conference organizers were in on the joke — the audience were clued in afterward and asked to participate in order to fool the media. For me, the discussion-worthy items here are: data insurance and the value of data."
You can't write Google is upset and then use as a source for that assertion an interview with the pranksters (who are still in character) themselves.
Yeah, Germans have historically been far too straightforward for propaganda, and the decade in which Orwell wrote that book provided no inspiration whatever.
Anyway, I'm spectacularly happy to see Google parodied in this way. It's about time the fawning stopped and serious people started taking them for what they are.
Have a Contract on your Contact.
A 'click' is now a click away.
they seem to be more dumb than evil.
Seems their plan has worked...
Yeah, Germans have historically been far too straightforward for propaganda,
That's true. It's why this guy's propaganda had such a hard time sticking. Think what could have happened if the German people had fallen for that shit.
soylentnews.org
Wait, I thought AC was calling the pranksters liars, not Google.
They couldn't fool the conference organizers, so they explained how it was clever satirical social commentary.
They couldn't fool the audience, so they explained how it was clever satirical social commentary.
The media didn't buy it either, so they explained how it was clever satirical social commentary
Is it me, or are the only people those "pranksters" managed to "put one over" themselves?
First: dickhead points for saying 'intelligentsia'.
But a 'sect'?
I agree. I expect to see a news item in the next six months that reads "German activitst company goes out of business after prank goes wrong" after Google's legal team sues the company into insolvency.
And if that doesn't work, don't expect to be able to have any useful google results on that company for a long long time.
Architectural plans are like computer source code with a couple of differences: You only compile once.
I also expect that re:publica 14 will be the last re:publica conference for a while. It is painfully obvious that the organizers did not check with their legal council when they approved this little stunt. I won't be surprised when Google:Legal shows up at the organizers door and slaps them stupid with a lawsuit.
Architectural plans are like computer source code with a couple of differences: You only compile once.
It was very German humor, really. Come up with four jokes and then spend the next 30 minutes explaining why they are funny.
Well, no. The whole "google is upset" thing is part of the joke.
Or, to put it in a way slashdot readers can understand:
Woosh!
[ insert slashdot editor in car-crash analogy here ]
This hoax is too close to what Google are planning to do and they don't like the press finding out in advance of the products they are going to launch.
You forgot: and some people (the majority) will laugh, and nod as it is so true to the mark.
I'd rather watch them do eachother
So many of the commentors seem upset. I think someone needs a google hug!
Sure enough, the cow costume was hanging up next to the superhero outfit and sailors uniform. (S,Spud)