Posted on 07/12/2007 7:58:11 AM PDT by george76
Privacy International, a human rights research organization, completed a six-month investigation of privacy practices for 23 Internet companies. Results of the consultation report were published this week, and the final report will be published in September.
Privacy International is soliciting additional comments on the findings before it publishes the more detailed report. The data used for the consultation report provides a strong indication of which companies rank best to worst for their privacy practices.
Google ranked at the very bottom of the list primarily because the research showed numerous deficiencies and hostilities in Google's approach to privacy that "go well beyond those of other organizations."
Google's low ranking is also attributed to its aggressive use of invasive or potentially invasive technologies and techniques...
Google retains large amounts of user information and has no limitations on how it can use that data. Even if the user wishes to terminate the service, the user cannot delete or withdraw the personal data.
Google maintains records of all search strings with associated IP addresses and time stamps them for at least 18-24 months...
Google has access to user data for employment, address, phone number, and hobbies...
(Excerpt) Read more at associatedcontent.com ...
A Race to the Bottom - Privacy Ranking of Internet Service Companies
http://www.privacyinternational.org/article.shtml?cmd%5B347%5D=x-347-553961
You mean the Google and Apple are being used by algore and his fellow travelers??
Whodathunk!??
So...don’t use Google. I quit using them years ago.
bump for later. Thanks for the post.
So if I use a search engine like Dogpile, does that mean that Google can still use their technologies to gather info?
Then so does Bing, Yahoo, and Zero.
Oops, I misspoke. Zero can use the FBI, NSA, CIA.
Google, Bing, Yahoo, and the rest of the usual suspects have to rely on cookies and signons and databases, etc. They all can record the IP you came from and correlate the cookies you coughed up. But they can't go past that without subpoena power, which only Zero possesses.
And remember, Google, Bing, Yahoo, and the usual suspects all contributed more to Zero than to whomever that tired old man I voted for was. So, you're wasting your time trying to chose between them based on politics.
Google’s entire business model is based on doing what a lot of the data-mining malware does. Only we voluntarily allow Google to do it, but install software to prevent others from doing the same... go figure.
From the Google add-on bars for browsers, to their own “Chrome”, which actively record/store/sell every site visited, every product viewed, and every “jot and tittle” of our online activity.
And then there is Picassa - which gives Google access to your images (with zero royalties).
And Google Docs - which then gives Google an interest in that work.
Google’s Advertising
Google’s smartphone OS - which basically gives Google access to everyone you ever call/text/email/etc. It also allows google to use ever bit of information about your usage of said device. All without even having to notify you, get permission, or give you anything in return.
So many think Google’s products are “free”... Nothing is free. In the case of Google, price is your privacy.
“without notice”... in other words - all that text is really meaningless if someone comes along with some cash....
Good point! This just in. I inquired for clarification. They did change the text and say, - they will not change the policy under any circumstances, “and btw thank you”. Fair enough. They want to make a difference. We’ll see.
http://www.adbirds.com/AboutAdbirds/?Privacy%20Policy
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