Big Brother Google is Watching You

Google, the world’s biggest search engine, is setting out to create the most comprehensive database of personal information ever assembled, one with the ability to tell people how to run their lives.

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Diana, thank you so much for this valuable article. I’ve wondered about the activities of Google for some time, and now I know much more thanks to you. I just deleted my history, and paused it – if indeed pausing is going to accomplish anything! LOL! Thanks again!

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All off Google’s search prowess with none of the privacy invasion, including by eavesdroppers https://ssl.scroogle.org/

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I liked how you used George Orwell’s 1984 in your article. Google also reminds me of Terminator’s Skynet.

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I promise u one think. Google will never use those information for anything u don’t want them to use. In my opinion Google – as a strictly customer orientated company – is interested in improving the relevant search results. In fact, this is their core business, this is where they earn money with. They are not interested in destroying the trustfull relationship between Google and its customers. This would be the end of Google.

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There’s a simple answer here. Adjust your browser to block ALL cookies and don’t use google/yahoo/whatever to find websites.

You’ll have your privacy completely protected. You’ll also have a helluva time actually using the World Wide Web in any fashion approximating what you’d think of as “normal”.

Any organization that connects you with information is doing something to exploit your usage data. I guarantee you that Bit Rebels keeps logs of all of the transactions here and that they COULD detail it down to the individual user level even if they currently choose not to do that. That information tells them which writers are worth investing in and what kind of impact they are having. That data harvesting is primarily commercial in nature, but it COULD be turned to other purposes if, say, a writer was making subversive statements and generating a host of replies as a result.

In the end, the question is “Are you being adequately compensated for providing data to the service providers you choose to use?” If Google consistently provides fast pointers to information you seek, then the answer is probably “yes”. If you really want to keep your business hidden, then don’t conduct it on the internet. It’s really just that simple. (Or keep it to the “dark” portions of the net, but that’s another story.)

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Excellent article Diana. There are a couple of items you should mention also. If you are using Firefox for your browser, there is an add-on called Ghostery that I find very useful. It monitors all the windows/tabs that you have open, and advises you of all the ad companies that are collecting information on your activities. You can then choose to permit or block them. The other thing is the security settings in Firefox – go to tools, then down to options. Select the privacy tab, then down where it shows accept cookies, go to the button “exceptions”. It opens a window that shows all the cookies on your computer. You can then add an entry for Google and select allow or block.

Hope this helps, and thanks again for all your great articles.

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Thank you all for your comments on this article. There is still a lot to learn about this, and I thank you all for sharing your valuable knowledge with everyone, including me!

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thanks for sharing a really important news here. very much excited and scary too. and thanks for the help john, i ll use this plugin when i use Firefox.

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Why are you blaming Google. They’ve given you the choice to turn web history on or off. What you should be concentrating on is the fact that the 3 letter agencies and law enforcement are able to glean anything you do on the internet regardless of what bloody search engine you use by tapping into already existing infrastructure within the ISPs!

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Wow this is one of the poorest articles I have ever read, and I think it is wrong you try to create hype over absolutely nothing to get page hits.

Cookies are used to help make people like you money! By knowing when a user visits twice, websites can show more relevant ads, helping article writers like yourself and Google make money off of those ads. I have a new cookie by reading your article, so don’t diss on the very technology that is helping you.

Also, for a writer I would expect you to be able to pick more credible sources. The Krane link doesn’t say anything meaningful. You either lie or were lied to when you say: “Google is on to them. Other information … captured to match your new cookie ID to the one you thought you deleted.”
I have never heard of this, you provide no evidence for this, and Google has no guarantee that the same browser and IP equates to the same computer or user, so the method would not work anyways. On top of that, you are misleading your readers because every website logs IP and browser information, including this one.

Google does not collect the GPS data for live traffic in Google Maps, they get the data from another private company.

Google does not save personal information like where you live without you choosing to use their services and give your location.

Google has only given out data to government agencies when those agencies got court orders to force it out of Google. This is not Google’s fault, this is the lawmakers’ faults. You should be calling the U.S. government Big Brother instead.

Google does not store browsing history unless you are signed in to your Google account. So if you sign in to delete the history, there will be nothing if you were not signed in before.

“I don’t want to believe that any of this is true” so stop B.S.ing your readers and find some of that “evidence” you pretend like exists. I suggest you stick to writing in a field that requires no evidence and something you are knowledgeable about rather than poison users with your high-school level rumors and emotionally charged words.
Now I’m going to wait for you to play Big-Brother and censor this comment.

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Diana Adams Reply:
January 5th, 2010 at 6:40 am

Dear Kristofer,

I would never censor your comment and I appreciate your opinion! Thank you for taking the time to write this. I’m sure a lot of people will learn a lot about you and your opinion of Google from reading this.

Cheers!

Diana

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Peter Hillier Reply:
January 5th, 2010 at 6:56 am

Diana, it would be useful to understand whether or not you appreciate that there is a big difference in calling Google Big Brother, when in fact they are not.

If you are not already up to speed on the subject, some time researching what your lawful access and lawful intercept legislation permits, without the need for Google’s assistance, would be quite beneficial.

Certainly, people should be concerned about their personal privacy with regard to web history and browser settings, but no matter how you configure your browser, everything you do on the internet, cellphone, etc. is subject to inspection if the situation warrants.

Best,

Peter

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Diana Adams Reply:
January 5th, 2010 at 7:15 am

Dear Peter,

Thank you for your nice comment. Since I’ve owned an IT company in Atlanta for over ten years, I consider myself to be knowledgeable about Google; however, I am interested in learning more about what you’ve brought about.

The thing is, arguing about Google is, to me, like arguing about religion. Nobody is going to win. You either have faith or you don’t. Period. Just as some might say to me, “prove what you are saying is right”, I can say the same thing, “you prove to me what you are saying is right.” Nobody wins.

When it is all said and done, everyone has their own opinion, and that is the beauty of the web, we can share ideas and learn from each other.

It’s these tough questions and topics that drive technology forward and what makes people think. Unlike some people, I choose to not let my ego get in the way and attack, but rather present my comments about others in a positive light. I’ll just leave it at that.

Again, thank you for the very nice way you worded your comment.

Best of luck to you,

Diana

Kristofer Reply:
January 5th, 2010 at 6:59 am

Thank you for that.

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Diana,

Thank you for the follow up, but we are not arguing about Google. I would be a liar if I said that Google does not do its own demographics based on what we do with the browser, but they are not, by definition, Big Brother for doing so especially given the fact they provide the tools for you to protect your privacy. At least in this Counry (Canada) privacy is a right, not simply an expectation.

With that, it is also true that like any other ISP or strategic integrator, outsourcer, hosting service, etc., Google is subject to those aspects of the Patriot Act and Lawful Access acts that permit the disclosure of private communications for the purpose of ongoing investigations. For this debate, I’ll leave out the spying conducted by the 3 letter agencies.

So, perhaps you can clarify your position for me. Are you suggesting that Google is in collusion with the Government with regard to the constant undermining of personal privacy of it’s browser users? Because if that’s what you think, you’d have a case to sue Google, as it’s illegal. Conducting illegal intercept is a crime in both our countries unless you are permitted by law (law enforcement, usually with a warrant and public officers, say the NSA, etc in the Federal space excepted).

In the end, you’re heart was in the right place when you wrote about the fact that folks have to become knowledgeable about the tools and technology they use on a daily basis and how to protect themselves, but to suggest that Google is the evil empire was simply not warranted.

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Diana Adams Reply:
January 5th, 2010 at 7:44 am

Dear Peter,

I suppose now if we are looking at the world as a whole, you are correct, there are some giants that are even larger than Google that actually have the power to play Darth Vadar in our lives.

And, by the way, I enjoy getting on the wave and using Google’s tools. It’s not like I’ve stopping using Google, I just think they know everything about me – good or bad, I believe they do.

If I think of this whole thing from a much larger perspective, I agree with you. Wow, just five or ten years ago it would have been considered far fetched to be discussing these things, but not anymore. It’s nuts!

Yes, in the end, it’s just about getting educated, but these days, depending on what you read and who wrote it, even that can be a challenge sometimes.

Diana

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Peter Hillier Reply:
January 5th, 2010 at 7:48 am

At the end of the day we learn from each other! The challenge on the web is developing that trust in your sources!

Have a peek at my recent opinion piece on where Canadian lawful access legislation is going here:
http://www.itworldcanada.com/news/opinion-what-you-dont-know-about-lawful-access/138876

The referenced legislation has been stalled due to a recent prorogation of parliament, but you’ll get the idea.

Best,

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Diana Adams Reply:
January 5th, 2010 at 7:53 am

Peter,

I’m going to check out the link now. Thank you for sending it. I appreciate the stimulating conversation today too. You rock and I hope to chat with you again someday.

Diana

Think it’s true. Diana, you are one class act. I just love your responses to the comments.

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Scary at first glance, but the truth is that if it’s not google, then it’s going to be someone else. Things like this have been going on for a long time.
George Orwell was a man way ahead of his time. Funny thing is, 60 years after his death, there are 32 CCTV cameras in a 200 yard radius around his house.

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