LEAVE ME ALONE GOOGLE!
Google this week announced a shift in its privacy policies that will allow it to follow the activities of users as they move across the firm’s Web sites, including its highly popular YouTube, Gmail and main search engine. The company emphasized in interviews that the change would apply only to users who are signed on to their Google accounts.
Well, I'm not sure Google REALLY wants to know what websites I'm going to. Is this going a little too far?
Mackenzie Bly
ReplyDeleteThis is all about money, the government is already tracking every move we make with the patriot act so the privacy thing doesn't really bother me. Google supports the market place on android phones so really they have this right. I think that this will back fire though. Just because a person web history shows a liking for cars doesn't mean when they look up mustang they are looking up a car. Its a good idea with advertising accuracy and might save them money in that aspect. But steve jobs called the iPhone 5 the android killer, and right now the iPhone 4 not 4s goes for 100 dollars a lot cheaper than androids so i think that this might end up being a waste of money only time will tell
agree about the government!! Why do you think they came out with web-cams? I cover tape mine after seeing that one episode of "Criminal Minds"
DeleteMakes sense! I bet it will make more people uncomfortable however. I get that they are not making money from the android users and this will be one way that they will be able to make some. After all, Google is an awesome product that endless amounts of people use everyday; hey someone has to get paid in the end. Just like everything there is always a way around it, unfortunately I see Google losing money by doing this in the way that people just don't sign in to their accounts, even the article mentions that.
ReplyDeleteI think it going to far but i also agree with Mackenzie Bly. It is good way to earn money! Lots of money. It will more more people join sign up a Google account.
ReplyDeleteThere has to be something against this in the constitution ... right? That's my first reaction, anyway.
ReplyDeletei guess since censoring the internet isn't going well, "google" is going to find another way to monitor our actions.
ReplyDeleteI agree with the fact that it will make google more money, if it works the way they want it to work, but this still makes me very uncomfortable! Oh, and Alexy pretty much thought exactly what I was thinking!
ReplyDeleteI agree with Mackenzie Bly. I think that it is all about the money and that it does not really bother me either. Many people might be bothered by it but in the end who knows if we weren't being tracked a long time ago? Technology is way more advanced than we think it is and the fact that I see advertisements on what product I just "googled" still creeps me out a bit on how much I really don't know about their moves.
ReplyDeleteEvery move I make is tracked and recorded but, it terms of being worried I am not because I do not use the internet for anything illegal. However, I am dissapointed that the internet has gone this far and will continue in this manner but, it does not surprise me. Just the same way it would not surprise me if Google, or the government, told me internet was a privilege not a right. Internet is like any other product, just the same way McDonalds strives to feed as many people the most unhealthy/fattening food, Google is trying to create the utmost user friendly, useful site that will take over internet. And, they will do this by observing and using our internet history as way to deliver what they believe the people want.
ReplyDeletei personally do not mind what they are doing with google but I guarantee you there are going to be a great deal of people who are going to fight against this to try and keep their privacy. It is crazy what technology can do these days.
ReplyDeleteIt's annoying. The Internet already tracks what you do on your pc or mac but now they're just adding another device to follow you on. There is no more privacy. If they track what you do now, on your smartphone, who knows what they'll decide to do next.
ReplyDeleteIt is unfortunate and slightly creepy that Google's latest attempt (and seemingly success) at making more money comes at the expense of our personal online privacy. I believe the problem is not in debating whether Google's move is fair or foul, but determining exactly what the internet (Google, Youtube, etc) is. Is it a public domain for everyone to see everyone else's actions?
ReplyDeleteEveryone is always watching, why care if google is watching now. We are already in too deep my friend.
ReplyDeleteAs much as I hate what Google is doing with their privacy settings I must say that in a Business perspective this idea is great!
ReplyDeleteAlthough they can earn more money, they are going too far!!!
ReplyDeleteI do have a problem with what google is doing because we do lose privacy, but in the end I don't think people are going to avoid certain websites that they think they can get in trouble for.
ReplyDeleteTechnology has gone too far many times, but unfortunetly there's nothing we can really do about it. Nothing is private anymore it seems
ReplyDeleteWhile some of you are clamoring that this is going too far, most of the things we do to communicate(phone calls, texts, emails, even facebook comments/wall posts) are already being kept track of and can be found. Even the facebook timeline makes it simple to see all the stuff you posted in the past, so the things you do on the internet never really goes away. Maybe google has already been looking at the websites people go to this whole time. How would we really know? We don't.
ReplyDeleteThat's kinda creepy and strange. It sounds like a sopa or pipa thing.
ReplyDeleteI'm actually not too concerned about this for now it doesn't seem like that large of a push towards the invasion of privacy but there should be an easier way to opt out of this without it interfering with your android experience.
ReplyDeleteWell I'm sure they have there reasons. They developed a video, explaining there reasons, so people should look at that before they make a final opinion.
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ReplyDeleteI think it's not a big deal. Sure they can track what you're doing, but they are tracking millions of people. The odds of them looking at my activity at a critical level is very slim. Even so, if it bothers people, they can just be sure they are logged out of their Google account.
ReplyDeleteThey have their reasons, but i think it is creepy that they can now look at everything you are doing.
ReplyDeleteI do not think that it is fair to deny people access to certain products and applications because they are not signed into an account. People deserve their privacy, and they shouldn't be punished for not agreeing to be watched.
ReplyDeleteOur lives are fast becoming entirely online. Our every action is documented and potentially controlled by giant corporations whose goal is to squeeze every nickel and dime out of your pockets. Soon you wont be able to even access the web without entering your id and password.
ReplyDeleteAll in all better Google then the government. At least for now.
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ReplyDeleteI feel that such a change is not a big deal. If someone really wanted to track your internet activity they could. on a positive not this could some how help users while researching or browsing, as google could automatically provide users with related webpages.
ReplyDeleteThis really isn't anything surprising, the internet nowadays is just so frivolously cheeky in terms of privacy and tracking movement. we dont know the real reason why Google is really tracking our movement but this could simply pertain to the principle of marketing, in other words Google might be tracking movement specifically for statistically analysis to increase advertisement, organize cloud cluster and even increase censorship. Or it could even be the government, who knows? but i can guarantee you its to do with money. Again this isn't very unexpected, i mean the way i see it is that a lot of our personal information is already floating somewhere in cyber space, Google has just found a way to track and obtain certain information important to their site(s) well being.
ReplyDeleteI understand why they are doing this. It seems like an okay idea, but it can be a bit of a hassle for the user. Also like many others mentioned people will track you and get your information if they really want it.
ReplyDeletethey are giving people reasons to leave - stupid and shortsighted of them.
ReplyDeleteI think this is so wrong if they want to see what their users are doing make it an opition because most of us do not want some creep to be following my web actions. this should not be allowed
ReplyDeleteWhile I am certainly a believer in the right to privacy on the Internet, I don't think this shift in Google's privacy policy will make that big of a difference. Of course Google is just trying to tailor its services to be convenient for its users while also making more money by better targeting their ads to the consumers. If people are using the Internet for the right reasons they should have nothing to hide anyway.
ReplyDeleteGoogle just sees this as a business opportunity. with the way technology is going humans have actually became somewhat dependent on google. i see this as an invasion of privacy but that dosnt matter because people will still use google. and thats it. google is doing it because they can.
ReplyDeleteWell in that case, bye bye to my google account! I may just be kidding but that is a little scary. That is true though, the government already has access to literally everything we do on our phones and computers. I really dont think it will make any difference at all if google can tap into this info.
ReplyDeleteI'm not too worried about this shift in privacy, and I don't think most people should be (as long as they aren't using the internet to participate in anything illegal). I think Google is being smart and trying to make more money. There's nothing wrong with that. I think this will bother a lot of people though, and I can understand that as well. It's pretty creepy how much we are tracked these days, and half the time we don't even know it. Also...I do think it's interesting that Google changed their privacy policy just days after participating in the SOPA/PIPA Internet Blackout on the 19th.
ReplyDeleteI don't not think this is going to far because I'm not concerred with getting my identity stolen from something like this... Too me, i feel that there are far easier ways to get my identity stolen then this
ReplyDeleteFirst of all, Google is really one of the most useful products, and it's like the sun among starts, however they should respect our privacies, and we will not feel confident if someone is watching us.
ReplyDeleteI don't think that this change in the privacy policy will make that big of a difference. Even though it may seem a little scary that they can see your activities, it's more for advertising and marketing for businesses.
ReplyDeleteI completely agree with Zak. Identities should not be compromised by this. Google is a big company and really what would they use my identity information for. I'm sure they have placed many privacy settings that will prevent this. I guess if you don't want to share your information with google don't buy an android phone or use google.
ReplyDeleteI feel a little uneasy about the whole situation. I'd like my usage of the internet to stay between my laptop and I, not that I'm doing anything illegal, it's just something I already expect. I love Google products, and this must be a huge part in gaining money, I just wouldn't agree. I'd probably keep away from Google if that was the case.
ReplyDeleteThis just makes me feel like they are trying to incorporate the users web movements and connections the movements have into better advertisement. Displaying ads for your "preferences" when you go to their sites. Or it may just provide recommendations for other sites or videos you may like. This would not change my opinion on visiting Google's sites nor would it change how often I do.
ReplyDeleteI can't believe that Google will really care what millions of people are doing. If someone really wants to track your usage of the internet, they can do it through other means. This will be just another way of advertising, and making the internet and the sites you go to more applicable to you.
ReplyDeleteThis seems to be just for the money. I believe that with this information they might want to see what you might be interested in and set out information that the user will most likely lookout even though he didn't type what came up on the search bar. So mainly this would be to customize certain pages with ads and useless information for the user to lose his time and look at.
ReplyDeleteThis is article makes me feel a little scared because that means we got to watch out in what we do and what we say. It can even be a joke and it would still get us in trouble. The government is getting to serious about things and we may just keep having innocent people go to jail for a long period of time.
ReplyDeleteIt is uncomfortable for many people to be watching from a company like Google. Indeed, everyone has own privacy when he or she uses a computer to reach a certain aim.
ReplyDelete