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Re^2: [OT]: Google browser(Updated!)

by BrowserUk (Patriarch)
on Sep 03, 2008 at 19:49 UTC ( [id://708836]=note: print w/replies, xml ) Need Help??


in reply to Re: [OT]: Google browser(Updated!)
in thread [OT]: Google browser(Updated!)

I was gifted a gmail account shortly after they went live and I've used exactly 3 times.

I installed Picasa briefly, but eradicated it when I couldn't expain much of the system activity it instigated.

I don't believe in conspiracy theories much, but it's hard not to believe that all this intrusive technology isn't doing more than just boosting googles competitive advantage.


Examine what is said, not who speaks -- Silence betokens consent -- Love the truth but pardon error.
"Science is about questioning the status quo. Questioning authority".
In the absence of evidence, opinion is indistinguishable from prejudice.

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Re^3: [OT]: Google browser(Updated!)
by amarquis (Curate) on Sep 03, 2008 at 20:08 UTC

    One of Google's more clever, I think, ideas to collect data to boost that competitive advantage is GOOG-411. They provide, for free, telephone directory assistance. Why? From Wikipedia: "Google has stated that the company originally implemented GOOG-411 to build a large phoneme database from users' voice queries. This phoneme database, in turn, will allow Google engineers to refine and improve the speech recognition engine that Google uses to index audio content for searching."

    Specific to Chrome, having the data collection built into the browser lets them even reach into the address bar of the browser for data, which I'm sure is a gold mine of valuable search related info for them for them.

        You know what, I'd assumed that they'd not been storing the data by individual phone number, but I'd not really thought about it. I just checked the EULA for GOOG 411:

        "If you choose to connect to a business through the GOOG-411 service, your caller ID information will become visible to that business. We do not share your information with anyone except in the limited circumstances as outlined in our privacy policy.

        To avoid having any information associated with your phone number in the future, just block your caller ID before you call...."

        I guess I'm naive, sadly.

Re^3: [OT]: Google browser(Updated!)
by zentara (Archbishop) on Sep 04, 2008 at 12:51 UTC
    intrusive technology isn't doing more than just boosting googles competitive advantage.

    Maybe, but if you follow the US news closely, you will find that ISP's have recently been ruled against by the courts, and are required to provide the governemnt with all logs. (Many ISP's were fighting it on possible invasion of privacy grounds). So Big Brother really dosn't have to go thru google to get info on you, they can get a list of your visited sites directly from the ISPs. So Google is probably just a mercenary in this.....trying to develop statistics to sell ads, and send you custom ads based on your browsing history.

    I remember a discussion I heard on it, and I guess they have it setup that all your internet traffic, can be routed thru a government agent's computer, even at his home. It was a court ruling a few years back, that all ISP's had to include this feature in their switching systems. So in all probability, this node is being displayed on some agent's screen, while he/she is sipping their morning coffee, and deciding if you are part of some plot.

    Which brings up another "point of paranoia".... the so-called-anonymous-surfing systems......web-anonymizers. Don't you think the governemnt is setting these up with their undercover people, and they watch you as you think you are anonymous? I wouldn't trust them as being anonymous, the government is too tricky and well funded.


    I'm not really a human, but I play one on earth Remember How Lucky You Are
      The logs are for cops, the NSA/CIA/FBI... track in realtime.
        track in realtime

        It may have just been coincidence, but just after I posted that node, my access to Perlmonks.org got locked up for 10 minutes. I was getting "waiting for perlmonks" messages, and when the page did show up, it was blank!!

        It's like they sent me a message..... don't talk about their surveillance.

        The first rule of the Spy club, is don't talk about Spy club. :-)


        I'm not really a human, but I play one on earth Remember How Lucky You Are

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