OK, I guess I’ve been hiding under a rock, or most likely just hiding my head there, but a few things this week got my juices flowing about Google, and I simply have to spill. Will be happy if you stick around to the end, since it’s an important issue that touches just about everyone in our society today – everyone with an internet connection that is…
Like many of you (I assume), I don’t pay much attention to what my enjoyment of ‘enhanced’ web services means for my privacy. I take it as part of the way the online world is run today. If you want to be online, participate in communities, and get relevant search results lickity split, you know in the back of your mind that those cookies and various other monsters hiding in your hard drive and on company servers world wide, save information about you and your habits. But, have you actually taken a minute to think about what this really means and who is the actual benefactor? Let me give you a little hint – it’s probably not you… While Google claims that their services are geared towards providing the best user experience, lets face it, it all comes down to dollars and cents – and Google is getting the dollars… The little publishers are just getting the cents and the general public is getting the shaft. Now, this is not just a disgruntled post. You might notice that this blog is hosted on WordPress.com – a refreshingly ad free platform. Whatever reactions I get for this post will land no money in my pocket.
On Dollars and Adsense
Latest news and reports show Google ad revenue going down in a spiral, and the company is reevaluating its policies on adsense publishers, what it considers spam, and what it decides to pay out in order to mitigate the damages. This re-working of adsense TOS brought up some issues about what seems to me as an adsense tos double standard. The long and short of it, is that on the official google blog, they highlight two different sites with similar adsense violations of placing ads to look like content, one being ok, the other not. Another hypocritical mention on Google’s site, is the featuring of a quote for one of their best performers, dollars wise, stating that the key to their success with adsense is the fact that the linked ads don’t look like ads.
Online Privacy – Does it even exist?
Various stories in the past have outlined Google’s not so clear privacy policies and what they choose to keep on file, on you, your surfing habits and your search trends. After all, they want to be able to serve you up the answers before you even ask the questions. Google personalized search keeps track of your profile, and while signed in to your account, will deliver the results that are deemed relevant to you!
What does that mean, well, for example, if you are a biologist, a search for jaguar, will bring up information and ads on the animal. If you are the wealthy stockbroker type, the most relevant search and advertisements, will probably bring up results for the vehicle. A recent post I read about the possibility of Google’s spiders going through your gmail, actually sent shivers down my spine. Whether true or not, the fact is that they have the technology, ability and financial motivation to do what ever they please. I would really like to see some privacy audits going on.
I checked out gmail TOS page to find that on their e-mail privacy terms, they state that the e-mails you chose to delete, are kept on their servers for “a limited period of time” in case of server crashes or whatever other malfunctions. Now, is Google saying they need to keep these e-mails on their servers in case you accidentally deleted something? And what exactly is a limited period of time – would you have to run to court and battle the giant for a judge to set this standard? Since when does Google get to think for you?
Google’s Take On Your Privacy – Off Line is NOT Off Limits
But today, I probably read the most outrageous article, about a PA couple suing Google over posting their home’s photos on Google’s Street View feature for allegedly going past a “private road” sign posted at the entrance to their driveway, and driving up the couple’s driveway to get a closer picture of their home. The (now removed) pictures, and whether Google trespassed are up for viewing here.
My curiosity led me to find out more about Google’s ’services’ and I found an even more outrageous article, where the street view photos publicized an unsuspecting woman’s backside for all to see when searching for enhanced directions… What enraged me most about these articles, is the fact that Google doesn’t stop at stretching the privacy issue online, apparently, delivering a better user experience and higher profit margins, means stretching that issue in the ‘real’ world as well. To remind you, these photos are taken by Google employees, humans, not robots, and there is no reason why this should be tolerated. To summarize my ranting session, Google needs to put their ego back in neutral, before their enhanced user experience chases away all the users that made them so popular.
Would love your comments on this one!
