Updated and Corrected: E-Book Buyer's Guide to Privacy (EFF)

[Nate the great]

The EFF has responded to the comments, complaints, and corrections about the previous version of the privacy guide. They posted a new one on Wednesday.

A few weeks ago, EFF published its first draft of a Buyer's Guide to E-Book Privacy, which summarized and commented on the privacy-related policies and behaviors of several e-readers. In that first draft we incorporated the actual language of the privacy policies as much as possible, which unfortunately created some confusion since companies generally use different language to address similar issues. We also did a few other things clumsily.

Since then, thanks to the feedback and corrections we've received, we've made some updates and corrections to the guide which we hope will make it more useful. First, we've re-written many of the questions and answers to provide more clarity about the behavior of each e-reader. Second, we've tried point out where companies' privacy policies themselves are unclear on particular issues. And finally, we've made the whole thing easier to read by changing its visual layout.

This guide continues to be a work in progress. So, please continue to let us know whether it's helpful and what additions you'd like to see.

from:
http://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2010/01...-guide-privacy

[vaughnmr]

Sounds like they still have some corrections to make. They make it sound like you can ONLY get ebooks for the Kindle from Amazon.

[HorridRedDog]

PARANOID - the ONLY preson capable of understanding everything "THEY" can do. Of course "THEY" don't give a poop about him.

Don't use credit cards, drivers licenses, utilities, etc. Don't get a job or do anything that uses social security numbers. Don't have any friends either.

In fact IF you want to REALLY live free become a street person, and don't use any shelters. Now that will make you really free.

Ah, yeah, sure. They can still keep track of you. The question is - Do "THEY" really care about you?

[netseeker]

Still almost useless, it still covers only three devices and two software based products. They didn't take up one of the main complaints! That isn't a "buyers guide"...it's almost nothing!

[Rob G.]

Originally Posted by HorridRedDog

PARANOID - the ONLY preson capable of understanding everything "THEY" can do. Of course "THEY" don't give a poop about him.

Don't use credit cards, drivers licenses, utilities, etc. Don't get a job or do anything that uses social security numbers. Don't have any friends either.

In fact IF you want to REALLY live free become a street person, and don't use any shelters. Now that will make you really free.

Ah, yeah, sure. They can still keep track of you. The question is - Do "THEY" really care about you?

Yep. I had a construction job once where I worked with a lot of conspiracy minded people. It was always fun asking my co-workers who this "they" was and why "they" would care about invading their privacy, as if they were up to something nefarious that warranted monitoring.

I do respect the EFF, but again, this list isn't much of an improvement and again, it's kind of got me shrugging my shoulders and saying "so what?"

[Barcey]

Originally Posted by netseeker

Still almost useless, it still covers only three devices and two software based products. They didn't take up one of the main complaints! That isn't a "buyers guide"...it's almost nothing!

I agree, very few people are going to make buying decisions based on a data privacy comparison between companies. It should be an information guide on how the companies classify and protect your data.

Most companies just haven't thought about it so they need the attention drawn to it so they update their policies and data handling practices.

Other companies have thought about it and believe they should be able to collect and sell what I would consider to be private data. If they intend to do so they should be clear about it.

[Kali Yuga]

Well, I for one view it as a minor improvement over the previous guide. Hopefully at some point they'll re-format it in a chart view.

I concur that ebook readers in general are not exactly foci of privacy, but I do think it's helpful for those who are sensitive to privacy issues relating to what they read.

[kjk]

Can they share information outside the company without the customer's consent?

Comforting!