Imagination Defines the Limit of Genius
Well, at least they are soon after to getting into a conversation with me. It doesn’t really matter where the conversation starts, sooner or later its about RSS.
I’m going to post tomorrow (or later today) exactly how I tackle the fire-hose of information that is RSS, and will also post some of my favourtie sites. I know how exciting that must sound, so to give you something to do until I get a chance to write it up, start with this great collection of resources:
I have tried to explain this many, many times, obviously without success. Reading this document has finally revealed the deep subconscious rationale that has led me to defend my position on this important subject so passionately. I despise inefficiency, and strive to eliminate it from all aspects of my/our daily lives.
Maybe I have been approaching this discussion from the wrong angle all along, I need to sit down (with the seat down) with Petra and walk her through the science. I cant wait until she gets back.
So, Gentlemen, I include this enlightened link for you all, lets correct this evil social norm, and flush one more bronze age superstition down the toilet!
THE SOCIAL NORM OF LEAVING THE TOILET SEAT DOWN: A GAME THEORETIC ANALYSIS
Privacy International recently compiled a report on the privacy practices of the big Internet companies (Thanks Mashable!). It’s a pretty important report, especially given that these companies are capable of knowing more about us than almost any other organisations in the history of business. It’s a risk that is only growing with every photo, blog, video, social network, phone call, online purchase, search or email that we move online.
Who came out on the bottom? Google.
Why? Well, this might be a surprise to a few people, but Google actually has the greatest motivation to know as much as they can about everyone and anyone using their services. In fact their CEO recently suggested that they want to know what we want to do tomorrow, creepy (I guess they wanted to go one better than the ”Where do you want to go today?” line Microsoft used for years).
The thing to remember is that Google makes most (almost all) of their money from advertising, and like all advertising companies the amount they make grows in proportion to how well they can target their adverts, in Google’s case via their famed algorithm.
Here is a quick list of the criticisms leveled by Privacy International:
- Google account holders that regularly use even a few of Google’s services must accept that the company retains a large quantity of information about that user, often for an unstated or indefinite length of time, without clear limitation on subsequent use or disclosure, and without an opportunity to delete or withdraw personal data even if the user wishes to terminate the service.
- Google maintains records of all search strings and the associated IP-addresses and time stamps for at least 18 to 24 months and does not provide users with an expungement option. While it is true that many US based companies have not yet established a time frame for retention, there is a prevailing view amongst privacy experts that 18 to 24 months is unacceptable, and possibly unlawful in many parts of the world.
- Google has access to additional personal information, including hobbies, employment, address, and phone number, contained within user profiles in Orkut. Google often maintains these records even after a user has deleted his profile or removed information from Orkut.
- Google collects all search results entered through Google Toolbar and identifies all Google Toolbar users with a unique cookie that allows Google to track the user’s web movement.17 Google does not indicate how long the information collected through Google Toolbar is retained, nor does it offer users a data expungement option in connection with the service.
- Google fails to follow generally accepted privacy practices such as the OECD Privacy Guidelines and elements of EU data protection law. As detailed in the EPIC complaint, Google also fails to adopted additional privacy provisions with respect to specific Google services.
- Google logs search queries in a manner that makes them personally identifiable but fails to provide users with the ability to edit or otherwise expunge records of their previous searches.
- Google fails to give users access to log information generated through their interaction with Google Maps, Google Video, Google Talk, Google Reader, Blogger and other services.
The report also covered Microsoft, which of course is no saint, however it is absolutely true that Microsoft learnt the lessons that I think Google is only now about to start learning. The best example of this was Microsoft’s “Hailstorm” initiative, which failed catastrophically *because* everyone (its potential users) were concerned about privacy. I certainly noticed (while on the inside) a shift in policy that meant products began shipping with privacy turned on by default, and Privacy International also noticed this:
The true difference between Google Inc and Microsoft Corp can be defined not so much by the data practices and privacy policies that exist between the two organizations, but by the corporate ethos and leadership exhibited by each. Five years ago Microsoft could reasonably be described as a fundamental danger to privacy. In more recent times the organization appears to have adopted a less antagonistic attitude to privacy, and has at least structurally adjusted to the challenge of creating a privacy-friendly environment.
Interestingly, Bill even referred to privacy while mentioning new features in the interview I posted yesterday with Steve, almost out of reflex, it shows these concerns made it all the way to the top (or vice versa). Given Eric Schmidt’s comments (linked above), and it seems a campaign to attack the credibility of Privacy International, I’m not sure the same is true at Google.
Everyone seems to “trust” Google right now, letting them do things we would not let any other company do. It makes me wonder, what will happen to the business models they are building upon that trust, once it starts to disappear. One thing is for sure, that trust will disappear. They are just another big corporate, for example, they don’t “Do no evil” anymore, it’s “Search, Ads and Apps”.
A Race to the Bottom: Privacy Ranking of Internet Service Companies
Final note….
With my involvement in a small Internet startup I’m now constantly having to think about what impact new features might have on a users privacy. Since I trust myself, the people I’m working with and “Our Principles“, I’m often tempted to implement those feature even if there is some privacy concern. It’s important we stop at this point, and that we realise, we have to “say no” to the feature, and that we have to do this to protect us from ourselves.
Everyone was talking about this last week:
Kidney-donor TV show a hoax, producers admit – CNN.com
It certainly goes beyond putting a camera on a cat. The context behind it, is that like most countries, in the Netherlands you have to ”opt-in” to be an organ donor. This of course means that there are simply not enough donors.
While the idea behind this show seems borderline obscene, it has raised public awareness. I’m glad it was a hoax, and I’m equally glad it got people talking.
What would go a long way to solving this problem?
An “Opt-Out” organ donor program like Spain, Austria and Belgium.
Australia, which has the lowest rate of organ donation in the West should pay particular attention, otherwise you can look forward to this type of show gracing your Sunday night television program.
Just got some time to watch the Bill and Steve interview conducted around a week ago at the All Things Digital conference. It really has to be watched. Regardless of how you feel about either of them, their companies or even computers, it is amazing to see these two true visionaries shoot the breeze. They seemed very relaxed, joking often, and its obvious they hold a great deal of respect for each other.
I really enjoyed it, maybe because I’m one of the PC generation, and in a little way it feels like I have been along for the ride with them. Its incredible to think how far we have come.
One final thing that really stands out to me is that ubergeeks make great rich people. They both come across almost humble, constantly referring to the great people they worked with and how lucky they feel they have been. It is certainly quite a contrast to the modern day celebrity, royalty and I might say any number of “Internet Stars” who frankly just don’t compare to these two statesmen. Of course this could also be a factor of wisdom…..
Thanks for the memories Bill and Steve, not to mention all this information at my fingertips.
When Two Worlds Collide: Gates vs. Jobs, the Complete Videos – Gizmodo
In the middle of the whole reality TV craze (we may still be in it, not sure, haven’t turned the TV back on since) I actually proposed pitching just this idea to Endemol (yes, we can thank my hosts for that).
Although I also wanted to “play god” a little by introducing challenges such as dogs and mice.
People are going to start to wonder about my obsession with all things Soviet, wonder about just how far left I have wondered.
I just have to take that risk because this selection of Russian arcade games from Wired just cant be missed. Not entirely sure what this game is called, this it might be “Hunt for unred October”.
Continued from My First Time
It was a very warm day in Victor Harbour, one of South Australia’s favourite beach side towns, and as was the custom on superb days like this, Scott, Nads, Rouger and myself had decided to head there for a spot of surf and sand. We’d made the hour long drive in rattling cars with broken air conditioners, and I remember big furry seat covers that Adam insisted made the driving experience more pleasurable. I just remember them turning into airborne irritants, causing fur balls and massive clumps of belly button fluff.
We hit the water at about 1:00pm, just as the sun was at its fiercest, I was a little scared of it’s bite, but I knew that within 3 hours a “schnitzel parmi” and beer awaited me at the crown, I just had to be brave to be rewarded. I piled on the sun block, making my already pale complexion a colour slightly lighter than white. The water that day was perfect, it was cold, high and utterly possessed of attitude. Lining up on the sand, we prepared to attack the surf, I heard Rouger send up the call yelling “It’s Time To Harold Holt Bolt!”, in an instant we were all sprinting toward the foam, the last one to fall being declared the winner. I won.
The 3 hours were spent well, I know this because I was feeling pain by the time we decided to wade on in. My lips were like a salt flavoured chuppa-chup and my hair was matted like a dreadlock of dreadlocks. After dusting off and spraying our heads with instant conditioner, a trick Nads had picked up in a Cosmo magazine, we headed back to town full of confidence.
Recent Comments