What do you think of Google scanning your E-mail images...?

[RavenSword]

I just wonder sometimes if people are just too sensitive to privacy concerns. I'd hate to break it to you, but the internet, by its definition, is not very privacy focused. It wouldn't function if that was the case. And most services wouldn't work as well as they do if they weren't allowed to get at your data. I admit I'm going back and forth how much I want to lock my data into google, but I think that's more that I don't want any one company in general to have all my data. And google does use the data a lot better than others, including MS, to improve things we do. Look at google now. Its a great service that can be very helpful, but could never operate if it couldn't access your data. Call me naive or whatever, but I just don't know how warranted most of the paranoia is. They haven't done evil with it in the past, so we can't really damn them over anything

 

[fatclue_98]

The paranoia usually stems from people with skeletons in their closets. Personally, I have a graveyard but not due to kiddie porn and other depraved s**t. Bottom line comes down to whether you want to deal with it or not. Nobody forces you to live in the cloud. It's very comfortable but I remember life without the internet and it wasn't that bad.

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[RavenSword]

The paranoia usually stems from people with skeletons in their closets. Personally, I have a graveyard but not due to kiddie porn and other depraved s**t. Bottom line comes down to whether you want to deal with it or not. Nobody forces you to live in the cloud. It's very comfortable but I remember life without the internet and it wasn't that bad.

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But in the same sense , why use the internet in General then? Or give your data to Microsoft? or apple? or amazon? Or any other big company? I mean, let's not just put the skepticism just to google.

 

[a5cent]

But in the same sense , why use the internet in General then? Or give your data to Microsoft? or apple? or amazon? Or any other big company? I mean, let's not just put the skepticism just to google.

Absolutely, every cloud service, no matter which company offers it, should be viewed with some scepticism and not be trusted blindly.

However, pretending all the mentioned companies are the same, i.e. rely on the same business models and treat your data identically once they have it, is just as big of a mistake.

I'd also claim that most people aren't conscious enough of security and privacy on the internet. While it is true that just using a search engine can reveal a lot about you, hosting your contacts and mail and using cloud storage can reveal a lot more. That by itself is irrelevant however. What matters is how that which is revealed is used. Most are completely oblivious to that side of the issue.

 

[dlalonde]

Absolutely, every cloud service, no matter which company offers it, should be viewed with some scepticism and not be trusted blindly.

However, pretending all the mentioned companies are the same, i.e. rely on the same business models and treat your data identically once they have it, is just as big of a mistake.

I'd also claim that most people aren't conscious enough of security and privacy on the internet. While it is true that just using a search engine can reveal a lot about you, hosting your contacts and mail and using cloud storage can reveal a lot more. That by itself is irrelevant however. What matters is how that which is revealed is used. Most are completely oblivious to that side of the issue.

Exactly. The question here is not so much whether one has something to hide. It's more about being aware of the consequences and sometimes dangers that come with using these online services.

If you're fine with Google selling your data or having a pretty complete profile of you including personal data you don't give directly, then by all means, use the service. If you're OK with the fact that everything can be hacked and that your data could end up in the hands of someone you don't want it to, then put as much as you want. And so on...

But if you're aware of all those facts, you will be able to choose knowingly what you put online. That's the most important thing.

 

[DoctorSaline]

Misusing your personal data is an abuse of power. But, abuse of power has been there long before internet. That's the world we live in. I'd rather if there is so much a chance to prevent crime then so be it. And am willing to take my chances with it.

 

[a5cent]

Your privacy is already compromised long before you bought a smartphone in so many ways that you can't control that worrying about stopping this one is like wrapping your TV remote in a zip lock bag so it doesn't get wet while a flood ravages the rest of your house.

For this topic to make any sense at all, you must be able to differentiate between more states than just "complete privacy" and "no privacy whatsoever". If you don't do nuance, then yeah, no point caring or even trying to understand the issue of privacy on the internet.

 

[dlalonde]

For this topic to make any sense at all, you must be able to differentiate between more states than just "complete privacy" and "no privacy whatsoever". If you don't do nuance, then yeah, no point caring or even trying to understand the issue of privacy on the internet.

Absolutely!

 

[fatclue_98]

I find people make much ado about nothing by going on and on about Google services while happily connecting a PC to an ISP, using credit cards, using social media, not to mention these activities (just two big examples mind you) combined with being a resident and paying taxes tells both big business and the government more than enough about you already.

You know what difference using Google Services or not is going to have over me in the next 40 years until I die? Nothing.

It may or may not make a difference in the next 40 years but at least you're aware of the "risk". One would think most people are smart enough to know that if your information is on a server somewhere, there is the chance that some ***** will use it to make a buck. Then again, there are still many Nigerian Princes getting rich. They say a fool and his money soon part. It's mind boggling that they meet in the first place.


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[RavenSword]

Exactly. The question here is not so much whether one has something to hide. It's more about being aware of the consequences and sometimes dangers that come with using these online services.

If you're fine with Google selling your data or having a pretty complete profile of you including personal data you don't give directly, then by all means, use the service. If you're OK with the fact that everything can be hacked and that your data could end up in the hands of someone you don't want it to, then put as much as you want. And so on...

But if you're aware of all those facts, you will be able to choose knowingly what you put online. That's the most important thing.

Oh absolutely, I'm all in favor of people being away of it and then decide what they want put out there. We need to have that perspective so we can choose what to post, search, store , transmit, or whatever.

My issue was mainly that people seem to automatically assume google us actively using this data for ill and not for the benefit if the user. That was all .

And if I did have a major issue with google knowing anything about me , again I ask what are alternatives that are just as good?

Microsoft has plenty of its own issues with its services. They work well enough on windows , but what about other platforms like Mac? Google naked it a conscious effort to be on as many platforms as possible, windows phone aside .

Yahoo does the same thing google does with email and ads.

And the your left with a bunch of random standalone services and then you lose out on everything working if one another.

 

[dlalonde]

Oh absolutely, I'm all in favor of people being away of it and then decide what they want put out there. We need to have that perspective so we can choose what to post, search, store , transmit, or whatever.

My issue was mainly that people seem to automatically assume google us actively using this data for ill and not for the benefit if the user. That was all .

And if I did have a major issue with google knowing anything about me , again I ask what are alternatives that are just as good?

Microsoft has plenty of its own issues with its services. They work well enough on windows , but what about other platforms like Mac? Google naked it a conscious effort to be on as many platforms as possible, windows phone aside .

Yahoo does the same thing google does with email and ads.

And the your left with a bunch of random standalone services and then you lose out on everything working if one another.

To be honest, Google services are absolutely awesome. The whole ecosystem is great and works together fantastically and the data shared between services is highly responsible for this.

But one cannot use Google services and not expect all the accounts personal data not to be used. Users should just be aware of that fact. Google, Facebook, Outlook, Yahoo, etc. None of these services are really free. With Google and Facebook you pay with your personal data. With Outlook, with non-targeted ads but ads nevertheless.

And everyone should be aware of this without having to read a hugh contract written by lawyers and made for you to be confused. Tell the truth to people and then let them decide whether they use the service or not.

 

[fatclue_98]

To be honest, Google services are absolutely awesome. The whole ecosystem is great and works together fantastically and the data shared between services is highly responsible for this.

But one cannot use Google services and not expect all the accounts personal data not to be used. Users should just be aware of that fact. Google, Facebook, Outlook, Yahoo, etc. None of these services are really free. With Google and Facebook you pay with your personal data. With Outlook, with non-targeted ads but ads nevertheless.

And everyone should be aware of this without having to read a hugh contract written by lawyers and made for you to be confused. Tell the truth to people and then let them decide whether they use the service or not.

If the buying public knew the truth about anything there would be mass hysteria. Do you know where your food comes from and how it's processed?


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[dlalonde]

If the buying public knew the truth about anything there would be mass hysteria. Do you know where your food comes from and how it's processed?


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I do actually but I get your point.

 

[anon(8780439)]

As always... They doesn't know a thing called Privacy

 

[Great deal]

Another worry is the lack of security in the connected home and devices. Thieves may be able to hack in to systems to tell if people are at home or not. Global security and privacy standards need to be raised, agreed upon, enforced and checked. This is a debate that's needs to continue for agreement to happen alas there are some in power (agencies, companies, governments) who are happy for there to be all talk and no action.