Privacy Convictions
A brother and I were chatting at Holy Culture Radio about Google's Grand Central and asked me if I'd be interested in an invite. In declining, I realized that what I was saying to him was something that many probably do not think about when thinking of web services. What follows is what I wrote to him.
GigaOm recently did an article speaking about some of the issues of privacy that users need to be concerned with in doing things online. I'd recommend reading it (here), and then balancing what is said there (editorial opinion with some facts) to your personal convictions, to the privacy agreements of Google and others.
I tend not to try and skew the opinion of others with my own; but I will say that Googles activites do cause concern. Mainly because we have moved firmly into an information economy. The time is pretty much upon us where it is again like the pre-reformation era where those who control the information will subdue those who are not "in" towards keeping it exclusive. Entities such as Google, Facebook, etc. are in the business of making sure that you become identified by the information you search and attach yourself to. This information tracking and serving can/will lead to issues where persons can be denied access because they have a "mark" against them.
When I look at personal information such as phone numbers and addresses, I have made the call that such information I will not give out to online services unless absoutely necessary. Grand Central while great for what it does, puts me in a position that an aspect of my personal freedoms I am putting in the hands of a private company to whom I am not sure of in terms of their standing towards Our Father's ideals.
Taking all of this into consideration, I watch Grand Central and just about everything else that has gone mainstream, and I make moves carefully.
Sounds like a good reason. What in general do you not like in Google's privacy policy and is it something I should be concerned about?My side job is that of a mobile device analyist; my main one is that of a web developer. I tend to take a more critical eye towards services because of those frames of reference. Add to that my very relevant work background towards several areas of information dissemation, I just have become one to follow his instincts when its come to internet and what information that I am willing to give out.
GigaOm recently did an article speaking about some of the issues of privacy that users need to be concerned with in doing things online. I'd recommend reading it (here), and then balancing what is said there (editorial opinion with some facts) to your personal convictions, to the privacy agreements of Google and others.
I tend not to try and skew the opinion of others with my own; but I will say that Googles activites do cause concern. Mainly because we have moved firmly into an information economy. The time is pretty much upon us where it is again like the pre-reformation era where those who control the information will subdue those who are not "in" towards keeping it exclusive. Entities such as Google, Facebook, etc. are in the business of making sure that you become identified by the information you search and attach yourself to. This information tracking and serving can/will lead to issues where persons can be denied access because they have a "mark" against them.
When I look at personal information such as phone numbers and addresses, I have made the call that such information I will not give out to online services unless absoutely necessary. Grand Central while great for what it does, puts me in a position that an aspect of my personal freedoms I am putting in the hands of a private company to whom I am not sure of in terms of their standing towards Our Father's ideals.
Taking all of this into consideration, I watch Grand Central and just about everything else that has gone mainstream, and I make moves carefully.
posted by Antoine @ 1/10/2008 11:00:00 AM
1 comments
1 Comments:
I'm not sure I completely agree with the privacy concerns for items like: phone/address and the such. This type of information has been easily available via the old phone book systems for decades and really never private. I guess I'm more of the "its out there anyway" camp and I never post any confidential information to the services I use. Keep up the great work! I love your site.
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