Fear the Googler, not the Google
Summary: We're way past what Chris most fears, all of us. It takes just a few minutes with the Google to collect highlights of all the personal data and insights of any of us.
Chris Matyszczyk is upset that Google has offered to share data from its search results with the government, in hopes of tracking flu outbreaks more closely.
He fears mission creep, and the leak of personally-identifiable information to the government.
These are valid fears, and the slope can be slippery, but is that not true with all technological progress?
Let me offer an example. A week ago someone wrote into the Web site of my local community organization. Their complaint was that a neighbor was being harassed for not keeping up their property.
At the end of the note was a warning. I'm not telling you where I live because I don't want you going after me. Then the person signed it with their own name.
Within a few minutes I knew where they lived and many elements of their biography. I thought of sharing this, because I didn't like the tone of the note (trashy yards hurt property values) but decided against it.
Thank goodness.
The point is, we're already out there. We're way past what Chris most fears, all of us. It takes just a few minutes with the Google to collect highlights of all the personal data and insights of any of us.
My own response is to try and live as though I'm always on TV. That may sound extreme, but so far as I know I'm the only Dana Blankenhorn extant (a long story) and, as a writer seeking to extend the reach of my name, it seems necessary.
This does not make me a prisoner. I retain my freedom, to think, to write, to work in my own way. I'm not inclined to many things that would be terribly embarrassing if known, and I plan to continue that way.
That is the bitter. But here is the sweet. We can track trends. We can know what is happening, while it's happening, and we really don't have to violate anyone's privacy in order to do it.
Chris has a lot more to fear from all the Little Brothers than the Big Brother of Google. As do we all.
Kick off your day with ZDNet's daily email newsletter. It's the freshest tech news and opinion, served hot. Get it.
Talkback
What???
2. The government using the information is bad enough but lets make it real easy for the cyber-stalkers and pedophiles while we are at it. Would you feel comfortable with someone data mining what your children are doing??? May be find out they are going to be alone at the movies on Friday night even though they told you they are going to stay over at a friends house with supervision.
3. I know someone who uses internet searches and stolen satellite pictures to blackmail clients into doing business with them. He is already abusing the information age. Instead of fighting such abuse, lets embrace it after all everybody lives just like the actors on T.V.do, right? I got news for you, even if you live the life of a saint it is very very very uncomfortable to have someone you barely know come up to you and hand you pictures and a full report on your recent whereabouts. Sometimes it is a report on the whereabouts of family and friends.
The secret is in motives
I resist Microsoft's possession of even one bit of my personal information, because I know what their motives are. Same thing applies to the Government, because I know they are "lobbied" by Microsoft, regardless of what their motives are, which I suspect are NOT too pure to begin with (witness the Patriot act).
On the other hand, while I do not volunteer any, I don't worry that my personal information falls into the hands of Linux, because I know what their motives are too.
As far as Google is concerned, I use Google as a search engine only, because of their possible motives in the future, even if not presently. They require installation of their software to use Google Maps, Google Earth, and other Google features. A record of my search history is enough personal information for Google to possess, as far as I am concerned.
Dogpile is also a good search engine. Use Dogpile and find where all the dogs are piled up!
Great article, Dana