Concerned About Privacy? You're Probably up to no Good, Says Google CEO

Daily Tech ^ | 12/8/09 | Jason Mick

[FromLori]

Remarks anger many who are concerned with Google's ever expanding influence

Google is stockpiling a wealth of user data. With its search engine, its advertising services, its applications, its new free DNS service, and more, the company has an incredible perspective on exactly what users are looking at. Many fear that Google could abuse this information or allow it to be abused, either for profit or to prosecute citizens who aren't necessarily guilty. In short, fears that "Big Brother is watching you" have been replace with fears that "Google is watching you". Google's recently responded to such doubts, blasting those that would harbor them. Google CEO Eric Schmidt commented to CNBC, "If you have something that you don't want anyone to know, maybe you shouldn't be doing it in the first place."

He also admitted that Google does sometimes release its users' private data, stating, "If you really need that kind of privacy, the reality is that search engines - including Google - do retain this information for some time and it's important, for example, that we are all subject in the United States to the Patriot Act and it is possible that all that information could be made available to the authorities."

Taken by itself, this comment seems pretty reasonable. Yahoo's Law Enforcement guide offers similar comments, indicating that law enforcement officials must ask within 45 days and come bearing a 2703(d) order to access users' instant messenger logs. However, there is an expedited process if there's "imminent danger of death or serious physical injury."

The more troublesome comment is Mr. Schmidt's indictment of those who wish privacy. One must also consider Mr. Schmidt's own demands for personal privacy. Mr. Schmidt banned CNET, one of the top tech news sites on the web, from Google for an entire year for publishing information about the CEO, including his salary; his neighborhood, some of his hobbies and political donations. Where did CNET find this info? From none other than Google itself.

In total, the comments paint what is perhaps an alarming picture, when you consider that even large companies have been subject to hacks, data leaks, and subpoenas. While some may indeed want to cover up their "evil" actions, others may seek privacy to hide persecution at work over medical conditions, or to protect their business from competitors who could seek to use inside info to gain an unfair advantage. In short, while Mr. Schmidt may consider privacy a luxury a privacy that citizens don't need, it's essential to many.

The CNBC's Maria Bartiromo, who has interviewed Mr. Schmidt before in the past, asks tough but fair questions, like "People are treating Google like their most trusted friend. Should they be?"

Mr. Schmidt's responses indicate a clear disregard for consumer privacy. At the same time his company has fought deals like the Microsoft-Yahoo partnership complaining that they provide an unfair competitive advantage and possibly endanger consumers' privacy. And he has fought equally hard to protect his own privacy.

A clip of the interview can be viewed at Gawker.

[Outlaw Woman]

What is a good alternative to Google?

[jellybean]

Ixquick does not capture your IP address or keep track of your searches.

[matthew fuller]

IXQUICK METASEARCH. www.ixquick.com

[Brytani]

Good question. There are computer programmers, business experts, marketing professionals etc who are conservative. Why isn’t there a conservative alternative to google?

[Frantzie]

Dogpile? I think they do not log anything. Helped a U.S. soldier brong some pups back from Iraq or Afghanistan. He had one or two pups he rescued.

[Outlaw Woman]

Thank you

[Outlaw Woman]

Thank you going to try DP and IXQuick both. Google is out of here now.

[Allegra]

Dogpile? I think they do not log anything. Helped a U.S. soldier brong some pups back from Iraq or Afghanistan. He had one or two pups he rescued.

That'll work.

No more Google for me.

[Outlaw Woman]

Another good question. Not all Tech heads are libs...In this current ‘climate’ though they may not be willing to try anything.

[FromLori]

Thanks!

[Roklok]

Ask.com and bing.com.

[saint]

I’m not defending Google, just asking:

1 - This issue keeps coming up, but has there been a case yet where Google has compromised someone’s privacy?

2 - I’ve tried all the alternatives mentioned - none comes close.

3 - What the heck would a conservative search engine look like?

[Outlaw Woman]

Wonderful...thx for the info. Like I posted earlier...Google is out of here. Glad there are a number of alternatives. Just looked at IX and it maintains that it does not collect data. The article is so typical of a dunce lib.....banning cnet because it reported the CEO’s information from his own site! (ironic) Yet he expects the public to swallow their ‘gathering’ and not complain. Anyway thx again.

[familyop]

Here’s a great search engine.

http://www.scroogle.org/

There’s also an SSL version (secure, anonymous). Have a look around there. Hopefully, the site won’t go away for lack of donations.

[redhead]

"What is a good alternative to Google?"

bing. Gorgeous, fast, and helpful.

[Outlaw Woman]

Thanks for the link. I just added it to my favorites and it said “Scroogle Scraper” LMAO!

[FromLori]

I hope someone else can answer your questions about a conservative browser I can’t.

I use google chrome myself it just works so much better then explorer but the privacy stuff does worry me especially in light of nazi napolitano saying things about veterans and tea party protesters. Also I know google is a huge supporter of obama. And a search says yes they have given information in this article.

http://motherjones.com/politics/2006/10/google-evil

I know they censored for China and

YouTube, Google, and the Liberal Bias Virus
http://newsbusters.org/node/ 8355

Is Google Purging Conservative News Sites?
http://newsbusters.org/node/ 5477

Is Google’s Earth Day Logo Advancing Global Warming Alarmism?

http://newsbusters.org/node/ 12219

Google CEO: Internet Key to 2008 Presidential Campaign
http://newsbusters.org/node/ 9351
http://newsbusters.org/node/8458

Now Google joins Obama’s war against Fox News?
Fox News (and other News Corp sites) may be removed from Google.
Google sometimes reveals itself as a politically slanted entity. To which direction does it slant? To the Left, of course. It has played little conservative-bashing games with results of certain political search phrases, even. The cover of the November 3, 2009 edition of Fortune magazine reads,
“The President and the Tech Giant see eye-to-eye on almost everything...Is that a good thing?”
In the article, it says, “The President relies on Google execs for tech and economic advice.” So is it any coincidence that the feud between Rupert Murdoch and Google is heating up, just as the Obama Administration has begun repeatedly attacking Fox News?

Google and Obama are partners. Isn’t that scary? When our neo-Marxist President partners up with our most dominant information entity, don’t we have a reason to worry? Here’s just one example, where a Google-backed site helps Obama’s call for “Service”, in an effort called “All for Good”. Fortune calls the relationship “A Love Story”. Hey, how did that famous Shakespeare love story end again? In this contemporary version, perhaps “prison” could be substituted for “poison”. What, I can’thope?

http://wcvarones.blogspot.com/2009/11/now-google-joins-obamas-war-against-fox.html

[Allegra]

I like that! I just added it to my favorites.