EFF takes on Google ebook reader privacy

artifact · 07-23-2009, 10:39 AM

Found this in my inbox this morning from the EFF:

With help from a proposed class action settlement, Google is planning
to dramatically expand its Book Search service so that millions of
books will be available for browsing, reading, and purchasing online.
But in designing this new service, Google is leaving reader privacy
behind. Without strong privacy protections, all of your browsing and
reading history may be collected, tracked, and turned over to the
government or third parties without your knowledge or consent.

Email Google CEO Eric Schmidt and demand that Google Book Search
protect your freedom to read privately. You should be able to read
about anything -- from politics to health -- without
worrying that someone is looking over your shoulder. Demand that
Google pledge it will not stockpile information about who you are and
what you read and will not become a one-stop shop for government
fishing expeditions into the reading habits of Americans.

https://secure.eff.org/site/Advocacy...ename=homepage

Sincerely,
Electronic Frontier Foundation

Andybaby · 07-23-2009, 05:27 PM

hmmm.

well we all know google tracks your usage.

but they sure as hell don't just give it away when somebody asks, there has to be a court order.

Google does aggragrate data, and sometimes they do choose to share this with someone. but in this there is no identifiable data, as it is the sum of thousands to millions of users

Sonist · 07-23-2009, 05:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Andybaby

.... Google does aggragrate data, and sometimes they do choose to share this with someone. but in this there is no identifiable data, as it is the sum of thousands to millions of users

... and their email addresses, which they used to register...

HansTWN · 07-24-2009, 04:07 AM

How does Google make money? By using your data! And you thought Google was free? With Google you check your privacy at the door, I try not to use them, whenever possible. They know more about every Google user's behavior than the those users do themselves. Everything you do in Chrome, in GMail, chat, Google search is registered. And you may be on Google Street View, even your house, making it easy for burglars to find suitable targets! All stored and analyzed for all eternity.

HarryT · 07-24-2009, 04:10 AM

"The reading habits of Americans" (or of any other nationality, for that matter) are extremely useful data for sociological research, and are most definitely "worth" collecting. However, it should obviously be "anonymised", so that the reading habits of any one individual cannot be identified.

Andybaby · 07-24-2009, 04:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sonist

... and their email addresses, which they used to register...

google does not give someone your email address

I've been using gmail for 4 years and I to this day still only get spam on 1 of my accounts at a rate of 3 a day. it never even makes to to my inbox.

if google sold email addresses would you really think..

ahh whatever

I don't care. I'm out of here before more paranoid googlephobes come

SpiderMatt · 07-24-2009, 04:36 AM

OMG NOOOOOOOOOOO!!! Lord knows I'm incapable of exercising the personal choice to use or not to use Google or Google Book Search. Man, life would be so much easier if someone found a way of creating proxies that encrypt data... Wait a minute. People have done that! Whew... You had me worried there for a minute.

07-23-2009, 10:39 AM	#1
artifact Addict Posts: 276 Karma: 3569616 Join Date: Feb 2009 Device: jetBook (RIP), Kobo Touch	EFF takes on Google ebook reader privacy Found this in my inbox this morning from the EFF: With help from a proposed class action settlement, Google is planning to dramatically expand its Book Search service so that millions of books will be available for browsing, reading, and purchasing online. But in designing this new service, Google is leaving reader privacy behind. Without strong privacy protections, all of your browsing and reading history may be collected, tracked, and turned over to the government or third parties without your knowledge or consent. Email Google CEO Eric Schmidt and demand that Google Book Search protect your freedom to read privately. You should be able to read about anything -- from politics to health -- without worrying that someone is looking over your shoulder. Demand that Google pledge it will not stockpile information about who you are and what you read and will not become a one-stop shop for government fishing expeditions into the reading habits of Americans. https://secure.eff.org/site/Advocacy...ename=homepage Sincerely, Electronic Frontier Foundation

07-24-2009, 04:07 AM	#4
HansTWN Wizard Posts: 4,538 Karma: 264065402 Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Taiwan Device: HP Touchpad, Sony Duo 13, Lumia 920, Kobo Aura HD	How does Google make money? By using your data! And you thought Google was free? With Google you check your privacy at the door, I try not to use them, whenever possible. They know more about every Google user's behavior than the those users do themselves. Everything you do in Chrome, in GMail, chat, Google search is registered. And you may be on Google Street View, even your house, making it easy for burglars to find suitable targets! All stored and analyzed for all eternity. Last edited by HansTWN; 07-24-2009 at 04:11 AM.

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07-23-2009, 05:27 PM	#2
Andybaby Wizard Posts: 1,279 Karma: 1002683 Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: New York Device: PRS-700	hmmm. well we all know google tracks your usage. but they sure as hell don't just give it away when somebody asks, there has to be a court order. Google does aggragrate data, and sometimes they do choose to share this with someone. but in this there is no identifiable data, as it is the sum of thousands to millions of users

07-24-2009, 04:10 AM	#5
HarryT eBook Enthusiast Posts: 85,544 Karma: 93383099 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: UK Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6	"The reading habits of Americans" (or of any other nationality, for that matter) are extremely useful data for sociological research, and are most definitely "worth" collecting. However, it should obviously be "anonymised", so that the reading habits of any one individual cannot be identified.

07-24-2009, 04:36 AM	#7
SpiderMatt Grand Arbiter Posts: 447 Karma: 1574837 Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Arizona Device: iPod Touch, Amazon Kindle, Motorola Droid	OMG NOOOOOOOOOOO!!! Lord knows I'm incapable of exercising the personal choice to use or not to use Google or Google Book Search. Man, life would be so much easier if someone found a way of creating proxies that encrypt data... Wait a minute. People have done that! Whew... You had me worried there for a minute.

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