Once again Google has demonstrated a lack of concern for privacy. Its computer engineers run amok, push the envelope and gather whatever data they can until their fingers are caught in the cookie jar. Then a Google executive apologizes, mouthing bafflegab about how privacy matters to the company.
The takeaway from this incident is the clear need for government oversight and regulation of the data all online companies gather and store. The Justice Department or the Federal Communications Commission should examine the Google case in the United States.
Google’s announced plan to have an unnamed third party study what went wrong and to check that the improperly gathered private data has been eliminated is inadequate.
That’s like getting to pick the referees in a championship football game.
Consumer Watchdog is pleased Google has announced it will now offer SSL encryption on its search engine. This is a substantial protection for consumers. Google deserves praise for this important step and other companies should follow Google's lead.
Now, Google needs to factor privacy in from the beginning of all projects, rather than simply gathering as much data as it can, simply because it can. I hope they will learn a valuable lesson from this debacle.
I agree that with such power as what Google wields, a separate Caution Department needs to be in place with round-the-clock operation; checking, balancing, brainstorming and simulating all the worst case scenarios before releases.
But I give them credit for their openness about the matter. Of all the company press releases I've read, Google's was the most candid, honest and personable – what one would expect from a good company that made an honest mistake and has nothing to hide.
So I don't agree with the lawsuits.
I wish I could give you angry people what you want. If only I had a magic wand with which to grant it, namely, banishing you to the Hidden Realm of Privacy along with all the lawyers and class action plaintiffs who are seeking to capitalize from this. Ah, and that is all you really want, isn't it? To stick your greedy hands into Google's deep pockets.
Nothing happened. No harm was done. Unless I am mistaken, no ones privacy was compromised that resulted in damages.
The fact that they set the systems up to capture ANYTHING aside from images at a Street View in the first place was EVIL... this was far outside the stated parameters of the project, which was already drawing complaints from many.
Gathering information about networks, whether it was "just snippets" or otherwise was nothing but invasion and techno snooping... what would have happened if someone from a Foreign Government had been caught doing this??
No evil? Think again... and as far as apologizing, well so did some of the Catholic priests that abused children, but I doubt they'll be forgiven either.
I hope the EFF helps the Senate build a case and they rip Google a new one over this
Why on earth were you collecting ssid and mac address info in the first place? This is supposed to be o.k. as long as you're not collecting payload data? How so? Please, I can find no post anywhere where Google justifies this flagrant abuse of customer and citizen trust. After something like this, why should anyone trust any of your services?
辛苦了！祝你愈來愈好！
ReplyDeleteGoogle does no evil.
ReplyDeleteWhen it does, it apologizes.
Once again Google has demonstrated a lack of concern for privacy. Its computer engineers run amok, push the envelope and gather whatever data they can until their fingers are caught in the cookie jar. Then a Google executive apologizes, mouthing bafflegab about how privacy matters to the company.
ReplyDeleteThe takeaway from this incident is the clear need for government oversight and regulation of the data all online companies gather and store. The Justice Department or the Federal Communications Commission should examine the Google case in the United States.
Google’s announced plan to have an unnamed third party study what went wrong and to check that the improperly gathered private data has been eliminated is inadequate.
That’s like getting to pick the referees in a championship football game.
Consumer Watchdog is pleased Google has announced it will now offer SSL encryption on its search engine. This is a substantial protection for consumers. Google deserves praise for this important step and other companies should follow Google's lead.
Now, Google needs to factor privacy in from the beginning of all projects, rather than simply gathering as much data as it can, simply because it can. I hope they will learn a valuable lesson from this debacle.
--John M. Simpson
Consumer advocate
Consumer Watchdog
I agree that with such power as what Google wields, a separate Caution Department needs to be in place with round-the-clock operation; checking, balancing, brainstorming and simulating all the worst case scenarios before releases.
ReplyDeleteBut I give them credit for their openness about the matter. Of all the company press releases I've read, Google's was the most candid, honest and personable – what one would expect from a good company that made an honest mistake and has nothing to hide.
So I don't agree with the lawsuits.
I wish I could give you angry people what you want. If only I had a magic wand with which to grant it, namely, banishing you to the Hidden Realm of Privacy along with all the lawyers and class action plaintiffs who are seeking to capitalize from this. Ah, and that is all you really want, isn't it? To stick your greedy hands into Google's deep pockets.
Nothing happened. No harm was done. Unless I am mistaken, no ones privacy was compromised that resulted in damages.
If only I could make those lawyers go *poof*!
"Google does no evil. When it does it apologizes"
ReplyDeleteEXCUSE ME?!?!?!
The fact that they set the systems up to capture ANYTHING aside from images at a Street View in the first place was EVIL... this was far outside the stated parameters of the project, which was already drawing complaints from many.
Gathering information about networks, whether it was "just snippets" or otherwise was nothing but invasion and techno snooping... what would have happened if someone from a Foreign Government had been caught doing this??
No evil? Think again... and as far as apologizing, well so did some of the Catholic priests that abused children, but I doubt they'll be forgiven either.
I hope the EFF helps the Senate build a case and they rip Google a new one over this
irony
ReplyDeleteWhy on earth were you collecting ssid and mac address info in the first place? This is supposed to be o.k. as long as you're not collecting payload data? How so? Please, I can find no post anywhere where Google justifies this flagrant abuse of customer and citizen trust. After something like this, why should anyone trust any of your services?
ReplyDelete