Privacy-invasive behavior

Tones · 11-23-2009, 08:24 PM

Hello --

I'm writing from the Electronic Frontier Foundation. If you haven't heard of us, we're a nonprofit legal organization that promotes and defends online privacy, coders' rights and civil liberties. More on http://EFF.org/ .

We're investigating the privacy-invasive behaviors of the Amazon Kindle. Many researchers have observed that the Kindle regularly uploads substantial information to Amazon Inc. about its users, including syslog, GPS location and reading habits. Users aren't provided with substantial notice or control of this behavior. (For instance, see here.)

If you've observed this kind of behavior and would like to help EFF document and publicize it, please reply to this thread, or else contact me by email: tim@eff.org. Your privacy and anonymity will be completely respected.

Many thanks,

=Tim Jones=
EFF.org

rfog · 11-24-2009, 04:48 AM

Well, there is another preocupant thing with Amazon: Do you remember the sue in relation to 1984. Amazon returned user annotations, but that annotations was supposed deleted before. Then Amazon saved user personal data without consent.

HarryT · 11-24-2009, 04:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rfog

Well, there is another preocupant thing with Amazon: Do you remember the sue in relation to 1984. Amazon returned user annotations, but that annotations was supposed deleted before. Then Amazon saved user personal data without consent.

Huh? You're criticising Amazon for saving peoples' annotations?

rfog · 11-24-2009, 05:03 AM

No, I am criticising that Amazon said they deleted people annotations but people annotations weren't deleted, only saved for what Amazon only knows.

Nevir · 11-25-2009, 05:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rfog

No, I am criticising that Amazon said they deleted people annotations but people annotations weren't deleted, only saved for what Amazon only knows.

From all the articles I read, the books were deleted, but not the annotations - I don't remember a statement from Amazon about it other than they were able to restore them

From the Kindle EULA (US version) (Intl. version), Section 5/Information Received:

The Device Software will provide Amazon with data about your Device and its interaction with the Service (such as available memory, up-time, log files and signal strength) and information related to the content on your Device and your use of it (such as automatic bookmarking of the last page read and content deletions from the Device). Annotations, bookmarks, notes, highlights, or similar markings you make in your Device are backed up through the Service. Information we receive is subject to the Amazon.com Privacy Notice.

It's also on the Kindle product page as a feature:

Automatic Library Backup: Re-Download Your Books Wirelessly
Books you purchase from the Kindle Store are backed up online in your Kindle book library at Amazon.com. You can wirelessly re-download books available in your library. This allows you to make room for new titles on your Kindle. We even back up your last page read and annotations. Please see more information about your library content.

11-23-2009, 08:24 PM	#1
Tones Junior Member Posts: 1 Karma: 10 Join Date: Nov 2009 Device: none	Privacy-invasive behavior Hello -- I'm writing from the Electronic Frontier Foundation. If you haven't heard of us, we're a nonprofit legal organization that promotes and defends online privacy, coders' rights and civil liberties. More on http://EFF.org/ . We're investigating the privacy-invasive behaviors of the Amazon Kindle. Many researchers have observed that the Kindle regularly uploads substantial information to Amazon Inc. about its users, including syslog, GPS location and reading habits. Users aren't provided with substantial notice or control of this behavior. (For instance, see here.) If you've observed this kind of behavior and would like to help EFF document and publicize it, please reply to this thread, or else contact me by email: tim@eff.org. Your privacy and anonymity will be completely respected. Many thanks, =Tim Jones= EFF.org

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11-24-2009, 04:48 AM	#2
rfog Guru Posts: 694 Karma: 2383012 Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Schiedam (The Netherlands) Device: Lots of eInk devices and iOS stuff	Well, there is another preocupant thing with Amazon: Do you remember the sue in relation to 1984. Amazon returned user annotations, but that annotations was supposed deleted before. Then Amazon saved user personal data without consent.

11-24-2009, 05:03 AM	#4
rfog Guru Posts: 694 Karma: 2383012 Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Schiedam (The Netherlands) Device: Lots of eInk devices and iOS stuff	No, I am criticising that Amazon said they deleted people annotations but people annotations weren't deleted, only saved for what Amazon only knows.

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