Comments on: Say It Ain’t So…Google Plans To Listen In On PC Users? http://www.realtechnews.com/posts/3448 Independent Tech News and Product Reviews from former VP and head of CNET.com and Longtime Computer Shopper Columnist, Alice Hill author of the popular "Hard Edge" column. Originally named AliceandBill.com. Sat, 10 Jan 2009 02:49:50 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.0.4 by: Paul Higgins http://www.realtechnews.com/posts/3448#comment-61707 Fri, 08 Sep 2006 15:49:02 +0000 http://www.realtechnews.com/posts/3448#comment-61707 While I sympathise with the sentiments of those who commented we should wait and see, I can’t help but think if we do that we may walk blindly into a situation we dislike, and complain when it’s too late. If I stood outside your window with a camera and a recorder, and said we want to know what stock to hold in our store for you, you would quite rightly not be impressed and ‘escort’ me off your property. Why do we see electronic intrusion as less unacceptable? We are already ‘spied’ on by cookies etc under the guise of consumer profiling/targeting. I don’t like any of it, never use cookies unless absolutely necessary and always clear internet caches as soon as I leave a site. I also run a batch file to clear all temporary files when I start and shut down my PC. Maybe I’m a little paranoid, you might say. I just do not like these intrusions. However innocent they may be, unscrupulous people can misuse the information gathered. While I sympathise with the sentiments of those who commented we should wait and see, I can’t help but think if we do that we may walk blindly into a situation we dislike, and complain when it’s too late. If I stood outside your window with a camera and a recorder, and said we want to know what stock to hold in our store for you, you would quite rightly not be impressed and ‘escort’ me off your property. Why do we see electronic intrusion as less unacceptable? We are already ‘spied’ on by cookies etc under the guise of consumer profiling/targeting. I don’t like any of it, never use cookies unless absolutely necessary and always clear internet caches as soon as I leave a site. I also run a batch file to clear all temporary files when I start and shut down my PC. Maybe I’m a little paranoid, you might say. I just do not like these intrusions. However innocent they may be, unscrupulous people can misuse the information gathered.

]]> by: Lockergnome's Tech News Watch http://www.realtechnews.com/posts/3448#comment-61328 Thu, 07 Sep 2006 19:30:19 +0000 http://www.realtechnews.com/posts/3448#comment-61328 <strong>Say It Ain't So... Google Plans To Listen In On PC Users?</strong> David Johnston of RealTechNews writes: The Register is reporting that Google may have plans for the future to use the microphones of PC users to eavesdrop on what is going on in their environment. It would apparently be listening for things such as a t... Say It Ain’t So… Google Plans To Listen In On PC Users?

David Johnston of RealTechNews writes: The Register is reporting that Google may have plans for the future to use the microphones of PC users to eavesdrop on what is going on in their environment. It would apparently be listening for things such as a t…

]]> by: Eric N. http://www.realtechnews.com/posts/3448#comment-60555 Tue, 05 Sep 2006 21:09:52 +0000 http://www.realtechnews.com/posts/3448#comment-60555 "Email from: Google Snoop Subject: We Overheard Body: It seems as though you've used the bathroom 10 times in the last 2 hours. Here are some targeted ads to help you ease your stomach. Google Snoop" “Email from: Google Snoop
Subject: We Overheard
Body:
It seems as though you’ve used the bathroom 10 times in the last 2 hours. Here are some targeted ads to help you ease your stomach.

Google Snoop”

]]> by: Sven Lowry http://www.realtechnews.com/posts/3448#comment-60534 Tue, 05 Sep 2006 18:48:16 +0000 http://www.realtechnews.com/posts/3448#comment-60534 The technology could be put to much better use. If it could look for specific words and phrases, like "what's" or "I wonder which" and then log that sentence so the next time you load up google it shows you results for all the things you asked for in the day. The technology could be put to much better use. If it could look for specific words and phrases, like “what’s” or “I wonder which” and then log that sentence so the next time you load up google it shows you results for all the things you asked for in the day.

]]> by: Charles http://www.realtechnews.com/posts/3448#comment-60486 Tue, 05 Sep 2006 15:46:18 +0000 http://www.realtechnews.com/posts/3448#comment-60486 I mean... how about let's wait until someone has actually seen this software "before" throwing stones... I mean… how about let’s wait until someone has actually seen this software “before” throwing stones…

]]> by: Charles http://www.realtechnews.com/posts/3448#comment-60485 Tue, 05 Sep 2006 15:45:22 +0000 http://www.realtechnews.com/posts/3448#comment-60485 Slow down everyone... who said Google is getting a free ride? And by my scorecard they have been doing a fine job. How about let's wait until someone has actually seen this software being throwing stones. So they censored results to get into China... that is what any business entity will have to do to let capitalism get a foothold there. Also, since when is being a Democrat not being evil? Your party affiliation has nothing to do with your capacity to cheat and steal. Democrats are guilty of the same actions Republicans get called out for. Slow down everyone… who said Google is getting a free ride? And by my scorecard they have been doing a fine job. How about let’s wait until someone has actually seen this software being throwing stones. So they censored results to get into China… that is what any business entity will have to do to let capitalism get a foothold there.

Also, since when is being a Democrat not being evil? Your party affiliation has nothing to do with your capacity to cheat and steal. Democrats are guilty of the same actions Republicans get called out for.

]]> by: M Dinger http://www.realtechnews.com/posts/3448#comment-60442 Tue, 05 Sep 2006 12:58:02 +0000 http://www.realtechnews.com/posts/3448#comment-60442 If the calendar didn't say September, I'd would swear it was an April fool's story. But then the source is the Register... (tounge firmly in cheek) If the calendar didn’t say September, I’d would swear it was an April fool’s story. But then the source is the Register… (tounge firmly in cheek)

]]> by: allen http://www.realtechnews.com/posts/3448#comment-60274 Tue, 05 Sep 2006 00:01:15 +0000 http://www.realtechnews.com/posts/3448#comment-60274 Don't be Evil means don't help the US gov't, don't be Republican and do censor results for foreign governments. Somehow Microsoft is the evil empire while these guys get a free ride on their personal 737. Don’t be Evil means don’t help the US gov’t, don’t be Republican and do censor results for foreign governments. Somehow Microsoft is the evil empire while these guys get a free ride on their personal 737.

]]> by: OffBeatMammal http://www.realtechnews.com/posts/3448#comment-60270 Mon, 04 Sep 2006 23:54:02 +0000 http://www.realtechnews.com/posts/3448#comment-60270 Do no evil?! hmmm... eavesdropping on people who, until now, felt it okay to trust Google. Wonder how long before the records are seized by some Federal office keen to sift through the audio to listen for the word "terrorist".... Do no evil?!
hmmm… eavesdropping on people who, until now, felt it okay to trust Google.
Wonder how long before the records are seized by some Federal office keen to sift through the audio to listen for the word “terrorist”….

]]> by: Billy Smith http://www.realtechnews.com/posts/3448#comment-60169 Mon, 04 Sep 2006 16:43:11 +0000 http://www.realtechnews.com/posts/3448#comment-60169 If google starts doing this, I will never use google again. It's that simple. Billy Smith If google starts doing this, I will never use google again. It’s that simple.
Billy Smith

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