Hey Google, Opt-out doesn't work for social applications
Summary: I don't have a problem with social networks -- even if using them to their fullest extent does give up some of my privacy. I don't mind if my friends know where I'm at, what I'm doing, what I'm buying.
I don't have a problem with social networks -- even if using them to their fullest extent does give up some of my privacy. I don't mind if my friends know where I'm at, what I'm doing, what I'm buying. On most social networks, my privacy settings are set probably a bit looser than most.
What doesn't make me happy though is when social networks take an opt-out approach to privacy. Most recently, it appears that Google is falling into a trap by trying to fast-track the success of their social applications. Opt-out functionality is the easiest way for Google to push their users into their social apps -- but, ironically, that is what's going to make them fail as well.
Google Buzz was a classic example of how not to roll out a social application. Before Google's tweaks to the service, they decided who you probably wanted to follow, and at the same time, who probably wanted to follow you. The end result isn't much different than your Twitter account, but the way it got that way caused all kinds of backlash.
The latest one that has me scratching my head is what MG Seigler speaks about with regards to Google Latitude. Latitude alerts are by default set up in a way that lets your friends be notified by email of your presence, even if you don't authorize it.
Subject: Location Alert: Peter XXXX was nearby!
Google Location Alert
Peter XXXXX (XXXXXX@gmail.com) was within 800 meters of you in San Francisco, CA at 7:15 PM. Check Google Latitude to see where Peter is now.
It's true you can opt-out, but really Google? Here's what their website says about this feature:
Alerts are sent to both nearby friends if they are sharing their location with each other, even if only one of them has enabled alerts.
Opt-out sucks for social networking -- and when it comes to anything privacy related, it should be illegal. What do you think?
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Talkback
Google's not falling into a trap
Well said!!!
Google is just growing up in corporate America
Different traveller but same old path. Can you guys see who's following closely behind?
Right on!
Victims? Isn't it GOOD that privacy is opt-out?
I don't understand why that should be illegal. It seems like consumer-rights advocates and the like should be [i]happy[/i] when privacy is provided as an opt-out.
Windows, on the other hand, provides it as an opt-in; unless you go out of your way, it will phone home, reporting stuff to Microsoft. I think you actually have to call some MS employee if you want to use Windows without it phoning home, in fact. Which in itself is eliminating your privacy. So I guess that's not really opt-in privacy; it's [i]no privacy allowed whatsoever[/i] unless you avoid Windows. But are you any of you guys bitching at Microsoft? Nope. Figures.
Wrong way round
In that respect, privacy here is opt-in. Your information will only be private if you specifically tell Google not to reveal it.
Ah, that sucks.
everything about you whenever the government
asks them to. Except there isn't even a way to
opt-out of that.
And how it's legal to wiretap people for no
reason whatsoever.
I don't understand why there are still people in
this country who assume they have privacy until
told otherwise. Google sucks for doing this but
they're still no worse than anything else in
this country. :/
Isn't it funny that
Minor grammatical correction;
not "[b]is[/b] required".
It still IS required. (nt)
Sorry, Stan57, and Bruizer, but..
WTF.... sorry but I find this hilarious! :D
So my buddy had sent me an email wondering if I was going to join Buzz. I called him up and asked him what this buzz thing was all about and then read this zdnet email. My friend says I'm not showing up on it! ....so it sounds like you all are pretty messed up if you think you are forced to join Buzz, cuz I'm not in it and I've had a gmail account for years! haha...
So yeah.... just admit it! You are all a bunch of dim witted haters dissing on Google. They are the only email account I have that hasn't stolen my info and sold it. Like frigging Yahoo and M$ Hotmail. In fact Hotmail is the email account that has lost my data! :D
btw... Haters never prosper in the end and look like a bunch of bozos on the internet bus! lol xD
Take it from me, this isn't funny!
[pre]I been using my gmail like usual haven't
even noticed the Bust thing till I finally check
my other email account. lol
So my buddy had sent me an email wondering if I
was going to join Buzz. I called him up and
asked him what this buzz thing was all about and
then read this zdnet email. My friend says I'm
not showing up on it! ....so it sounds like you
all are pretty messed up if you think you are
forced to join Buzz, cuz I'm not in it and I've
had a gmail account for years! haha...
So yeah.... just admit it! You are all a bunch
of dim witted haters dissing on Google. They are
the only email account I have that hasn't stolen
my info and sold it. Like frigging Yahoo and M$
Hotmail. In fact Hotmail is the email account
that has lost my data!
btw... Haters never prosper in the end and look
like a bunch of bozos on the internet bus! lol
xD[/pre]
I think it was a few weeks ago that I was
reading
something on ZDNet about Google Buzz; so out of
curiosity, I checked my Gmail account [i][b]and
found that it was activated![/b][/i] I
immediately deactivated it, of course, but I was
(and still am) extremely pissed off about it.
YOU opt-IN
<b>If you don't agree, don't accept</b> Google's terms, and don't use the service.
It's your free choice. <b>You are NOT a "victim".</b> If you disagree but you check "I accept" anyhow, you're either a liar, a cheat, or just plain stupid.
Stupidity and dishonesty are their own reward.
RE: Hey Google, Opt-out doesn't work for social applications
Google forced buzz on the masses
Don't use Buzz if you don't like it
That's the point
My wife was the first to tell me about this because she got a notice that she was "following" me, and I her, even though neither of us has EVER enabled or used Buzz.
Even if you clicked on the (new) button at the bottom telling gmail to turn off Buzz, you still had a profile out there that at least some people could get to.
Really?
Or by "[i]some[/i] people" do you mean, like, Google employees?
It's kind of a given that they might be able to find out who you talk to on GMail, since they run it. Isn't this true for any kind of non-anonymous mail service?
If that's unacceptable, use <a href=http://freenetproject.org/freemail.html>Freemail</a> or something. Decentralized + end-to-end encryption + plausible deniability = very good
privacy.
Weird...