EFF's guide to e-book buying & privacy

[calvin-c]

Originally Posted by DawnFalcon

A different account, same address. When Amazon block accounts, they then go ahead and block any account which might possibly be associated with the blocked one.

This makes sense to me. Since members of the same household often share their accounts (not always, but if you can figure out a way to tell when they do vs when they don't, I'd like to hear it) it makes sense to treat the group as a 'household' account.

My suggestion is, if you have people living at home for which you don't want to take financial responsibility, establish separate addresses for them. Not that I know of any way to force them to use those addresses, except possibly to return any mail for them that's delivered to *your* address. And there are undoubtedly possible bureaucratic obstacles to doing this-here it's a simple as adding a 'room number' to the address.

Amazon *might* still treat it as a household group, but IMO they'd be more likely to treat it as an apartment house with that sort of address.

[calvin-c]

Originally Posted by Terisa de morgan

Sorry, the way the second line is written for Sony and the rest of the places makes I discard the info (or at least I don't really believe). Furthermore, lines 4, 5 and 6 are not right if you buy at Sony Store.

I agree about line 3. It seems to me that what they're comparing here is a device against stores. Of course I don't have either Sony nor Kindle so can't make definitive comments on those, but to me all 3 seem to be the same: they track what you load via their store.

[DawnFalcon]

Originally Posted by calvin-c

Amazon *might* still treat it as a household group, but IMO they'd be more likely to treat it as an apartment house with that sort of address.

In at least one case I know of, they blocked an entire address (flats) of 50+ people because of a stolen CC (which was reported them as stolen promptly, and removed from the account but the thief added it to their own account and bought a load of stuff with it...)

[omk3]

The table is indeed outdated in that it doesn't take into account sony's prs-900. It might seem skewed in other ways, but of course ALL online stores keep track of purchases per customer. Just not through the device itself.

However, it is a very good summary for why I would like to avoid having a reading device with wireless connectivity at all costs. Assume I have a kindle (or anything else that can be checked remotely) and put a pirated (or just bought but liberated of drm) ebook on it. Am I safe from the watchful eye of amazon (or similar company)? Maybe I am. Maybe I'm not. I just don't feel safe.

[questionfear]

My question: How is this any different than if I walk into Barnes and Noble and purchase a book on my credit card? My CC company has the information about the transaction, so does B&N. Presumably this also gets saved in a giant computer.

Excuse me, I'm going to go pop on my tinfoil hat and burn my ID now.

[kennyc]

Originally Posted by questionfear

...I'm going to go pop on my tinfoil hat .....

Wouldn't that be "crumple?"

[joblack]

Originally Posted by rcuadro

Why is this bad? If my daughter was on my account and her boyfriend failed to pay for something, I am still liable for the account.

No it was an absolute independent account from the boyfriend of the daughter. So the father isn't liable for anything. He has no legal entanglement whatsoever with the boyfriend.

It would be the same if the wife of your brother isn't paying the bills and you can't buy food anymore because of that.

[calvin-c]

Originally Posted by DawnFalcon

In at least one case I know of, they blocked an entire address of 50+ people because of a stolen CC (which was reported them as stolen promptly, and removed from the account but the thief added it to their own account and bought a load of stuff with it...)

Gaack! I can't decide whether this would indicate an automated system (which have the acronym TOM for a reason), or a manual one being run by a very stupid clerk. Either way, Amazon needs to do something.

I'm assuming that all 50 people were using the exact same address, i.e. not separate apartments or anything? I'm also assuming these people didn't all list the stolen credit card on their accounts, i.e. that they were blocked due to the credit card being listed on one account at that address rather than on all accounts at that address.

Even though the credit card had been reported as stolen, I can see Amazon putting a temporary block on the account(s) which had the credit card listed while they contacted the owners to clear things up. Shouldn't have affected others at the same address though-at least not IMO. (Defaulting on an account is one thing-people do share accounts sometimes, but a stolen credit card is different, IMO.)

[Argel]

Originally Posted by joblack

Amazon is a privacy hell. They recently blocked a customer account because the boy friend of his daughter (she's already 30 years old) hasn' t payed everything on Amazon yet (source: German c't Magazin).

Some kind of group punishment - I'm wondering what they will check next.

You mean Amazon know who I'm going out with? Now that is scary. Are they following me? Should I ask to see someone's Amazon account before dating?

[pilotbob]

Originally Posted by omk3

However, it is a very good summary for why I would like to avoid having a reading device with wireless connectivity at all costs. Assume I have a kindle (or anything else that can be checked remotely) and put a pirated (or just bought but liberated of drm) ebook on it. Am I safe from the watchful eye of amazon (or similar company)? Maybe I am. Maybe I'm not. I just don't feel safe.

So I assume you don't have a cell phone... because your provider "can" track everywhere you go and record all your conversations and know what software you run on it.

I assume you don't use credit cards... because the banks do know every transaction you make which means what the store is, how much, and in some cases with on line stuff each item possible. They "can" store all this info... actually they do.

I assume you don't use a search engine online... because they "can" track and store every search you make. you don't use Web based email right they "can" and "do" have access to all your email?

Actually, if anyone thinks their email is private they don't know much about email. You may login to google using https and a user name and password... but did you know that 100% of email is transported over the Internet in clear plain text? Yep... if you want private email between you and the sender you better be encrypting it with PGP or similar.

I assume you don't use the Internet. Because your ISP "can" (and possible do) track every web site you visit, every file you download, how long you spend on your PC, etc.

This discussion reminds me of a video I just saw today... about a new Google product called The Google Toilet.



BOb

[kennyc]

Originally Posted by pilotbob

....

This discussion reminds me of a video I just saw today... about a new Google product called The Google Toilet.


BOb

[kjk]

Not one of the EFF's best efforts-must be a one of those 'get this out by the holidays' things.

[DawnFalcon]

Originally Posted by calvin-c

I'm assuming that all 50 people were using the exact same address, i.e. not separate apartments or anything?

I'd imagine that most of them listed their apartment. We're talking rich people and individual post boxes on each floor. Year or so later, still not been solved. (They'll auto-ban any account using the same name and CC as an account banned for any reason)

[rcuadro]

Originally Posted by DawnFalcon

A different account, same address. When Amazon block accounts, they then go ahead and block any account which might possibly be associated with the blocked one.

No kidding!?!?
Dang

[kennyc]

Originally Posted by DawnFalcon

I'd imagine that most of them listed their apartment. We're talking rich people and individual post boxes on each floor. Year or so later, still not been solved. (They'll auto-ban any account using the same name and CC as an account banned for any reason)

I find this hard to believe. Please provide a link to your sources.