Is Google Becoming too Invasive
Posted by: mtod1
3rd Sep 2013 11:17pm
Hi all.
I was wondering what everybody thinks regarding Google.
In particular, its collection of information on everybody who uses their services.
For me it's a little concerning that a business who's primary purpose is advertising is tracking and collecting information about the general public, while at the same time limiting our ability to access information across the Internet.
Some of Googles features include: Gmail apparently can be easily read by 3rd parties or by google if they like to, as their is no default encryption while using their email service.
Google searches, what they call search personalisation but which limits search results to what they think you want or need to see. AKA (Bubble effect)
Hmmm Internet freedom.....
Don't get me wrong, I think some of their services are good, besides the privacy and censoring of information issues. lol
Let me know what you think
Cheers
I was wondering what everybody thinks regarding Google.
In particular, its collection of information on everybody who uses their services.
For me it's a little concerning that a business who's primary purpose is advertising is tracking and collecting information about the general public, while at the same time limiting our ability to access information across the Internet.
Some of Googles features include: Gmail apparently can be easily read by 3rd parties or by google if they like to, as their is no default encryption while using their email service.
Google searches, what they call search personalisation but which limits search results to what they think you want or need to see. AKA (Bubble effect)
Hmmm Internet freedom.....
Don't get me wrong, I think some of their services are good, besides the privacy and censoring of information issues. lol
Let me know what you think
Cheers
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Comments 4
Anonymous
True-fully, about 18 months ago I made a real effort to de-Google myself. I think it was about the time a lot of stuff was going on about Googles presence in China. And except in very rare circumstances I have been successful. No more Google. It was much like giving away smoking. Tough to start but easier a time went on. I now feel like a free man. No more dependancy on Google. Whhooo!! Whhooo!
Regards...
coffeeq
I would like a site to go to that told me exactly what they do collect and to what use they put it. They do occasionally make offers about Google ads but as I always ignore them when doing web searches, they clearly don't click that information!
PGS
I'd only use Google's search, I would not trust their mailiing system.
Deep in the T&Cs is a clause that they will scan all email for marketing options.
I won't use the Google Docs system for much the same reason - also I like my files where i can get them without a connection.
Facebook is worse though..
I reluctantly set up an account for one of my home jobs.
It is not under my name
Has no phone number
Incorrect address
It has no friends.
The email account set to it is ONLY for that account & is used for nothing else & it has no-one in the contacts. (yahoo)
FB's emails of 'people you should know/friend' regularly has people I know or have worked with along with family members.
With so many FB accounts globally, and no info in mine at all, how can they pick people I do know like that? None of these people know that email address or that the FB account exists.
What is FB scanning on my PC to get enough info for that?
If they can do it so easily, who else is?
I have firewalls, anti-virus, anti-malware.... all current and active.
Razorfish
Hi,
Yes I agree they collect lots of information and do use some of this for advertising purposes but for me Google is no way as worrying as the likes of Facebook or Apple in terms of using all your personal information to enormous profits.
I think you have to look at these companies and ask yourself how do they conduct themselves? Sure Google is a massive company collecting loads of information but they also produce excellent products and give them to us for free and help develop the next generation of software and apps. Facebook on the other hand just seem to want to control social media and information and then sell just to make money.