Privacy - Is it just me?

TGS · 03-22-2010, 05:31 AM

Is it just me or is there a serious question about why would anyone buy a device which entails agreeing to allow the seller to do this?

Quote:

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 and other information you provide may be stored on servers in the United States. Information we receive is subject to the Amazon.com Privacy Notice.

I dare say this is not the worst example of privacy infringement, but whatever the other advantages of Amazon devices might be, this just stopped me buying one.

mr ploppy · 03-22-2010, 07:46 AM

I lost interest in Kindles when I found out they could remotely delete books from your device at any time they want to.

Tamara · 03-22-2010, 08:01 AM

It sounds like a lot of that paragraph is aimed at people who may have a kindle plus the Kindle app on other devices so they can keep everything synced up.

Sparrow · 03-22-2010, 08:29 AM

The use of the phrase 'such as' would give me pause - they're only giving you part of the picture.

Kali Yuga · 03-22-2010, 08:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TGS

Is it just me or is there a serious question about why would anyone buy a device which entails agreeing to allow the seller to do this?

If that is your concern, you might want to move to a shack in Montana and go off the grid.

Or at least buy your paper books with cash and get rid of your cell phone.

Online retailers can track your every last move on their sites -- purchase history, what books you browsed on their site, if you came from a specific link. It's not like buying from Sony, B&N or Fictionwise really gives you that much more privacy protection.

For example, let's say I get accused of terrorism. The Feds will pore over every possession I own, paper and digital. If I'm taking notes in the margins of a paper book or in an ebook, they're going to get it. Or if I have a paper copy of The Anarchist's Cookbook that I picked up as a lark when I was in college, it will undoubtedly be introduced in court -- no matter how much dust it has gathered.

I don't see a problem with inquiring about it, but I really don't see anything useful Amazon can do with data that gets synced via Whispernet than via purchase history, or how it's really much worse than what any other ebook vendor can access or generate. Ergo, I don't see much reason for concern, especially in the era of voluntary surrendering of tons of data on Facebook and Foursquare....

CyGuy · 03-22-2010, 09:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mr ploppy

I lost interest in Kindles when I found out they could remotely delete books from your device at any time they want to.

I agree completely with this statement. As soon as I heard about this, the Kindle became a no-sale for me.

Mike L · 03-22-2010, 09:40 AM

Aren't you all missing the obvious answer: Keep Whispernet switched off.

abookreader · 03-22-2010, 11:20 AM

Don't want to fight --- but I'm wondering how this compares to the user agreements with any other device with 3G or wireless access.

Or even the non-wireless access companies where you are purchasing and downloading via a computer. What kind of "rights" do those companies have to peer onto your hard drive?

MovieBird · 03-22-2010, 12:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kali Yuga

If that is your concern, you might want to move to a shack in Montana and go off the grid.

Or at least buy your paper books with cash and get rid of your cell phone.

but the dating game pretty much requires a cell phone these days. I'm not a fan of being tracked everywhere, but as has been proven throughout history, guys will do anything for a pretty girl.

TGS · 03-22-2010, 12:13 PM

Quote:

If that is your concern, you might want to move to a shack in Montana and go off the grid.

Would love to move to Montana and live in a shack, (and raise me up a crop of dental floss, perhaps), but am unlikely to get a Green Card for shack living or dental floss growing

As someone said on an earlier thread - which I would have known about had I bothered to look - it's not (or not only), about them knowing about what I've browsed and bought, but it's about them knowing about what I've done with it after I've bought it that seems more intrusive than the background snooping that we all seem to have got used to.

gastan · 03-22-2010, 12:28 PM

Amazon's ability, and unabashed willingness to use that ability, to remotely control your device put the Kindle in the trash heap for me, also.

Maybe I'm just a paranoid old fart, but I don't think young people realize just how important your privacy is. If they did they wouldn't be so eager to spill their life's secrets all over the internet on FaceBook, MySpace, Twitter, etc.. Whenever this subject comes up with younger people, they seem astounded that anyone even worries about stuff like this. They don't seem to understand that once something is voluntarily given away you usually have to fight to get it back -- if getting it back is even possible.

I wouldn't even own a car with an OnStar module installed in it. I own an old, pre-GPS enabled phone and pray daily that it doens't wonk out on me. Perhaps "they" already have myriads of information on me but I don't have to voluntarily give them more or make it easier for them.

CyGuy · 03-22-2010, 12:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gastan

I wouldn't even own a car with an OnStar module installed in it.

I must agree with you on this one. Have you seen the commercial where they are able to remotely disable the vehicle? I would walk everywhere before I would own a vehicle with that "feature".

Nakor · 03-22-2010, 01:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mike L

Aren't you all missing the obvious answer: Keep Whispernet switched off.

Which would work, but a lot of people buy a Kindle because of Whispernet. Takes a chunk out of the value when you plan to not use it.

Tamara · 03-22-2010, 01:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CyGuy

I must agree with you on this one. Have you seen the commercial where they are able to remotely disable the vehicle? I would walk everywhere before I would own a vehicle with that "feature".

I actually like that feature. You report your car stolen and not only can you find out where it is, it's also disabled so the thief can't use it either.

HarryT · 03-22-2010, 01:30 PM

The reason for all this data storage, in case it's escaped anyone's notice, is so that information can be shared and synced between different devices. So if you're reading a book on your Kindle, and then you carry on reading the same book with the Kindle app on an iPhone, you'll automatically start reading at the page you left off at on the Kindle, you'll have all your annotations, etc.

03-22-2010, 12:28 PM	#11
gastan Addict Posts: 221 Karma: 801624 Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: US Pacific Northwest Device: LePan II, Kobo Aura	Amazon's ability, and unabashed willingness to use that ability, to remotely control your device put the Kindle in the trash heap for me, also. Maybe I'm just a paranoid old fart, but I don't think young people realize just how important your privacy is. If they did they wouldn't be so eager to spill their life's secrets all over the internet on FaceBook, MySpace, Twitter, etc.. Whenever this subject comes up with younger people, they seem astounded that anyone even worries about stuff like this. They don't seem to understand that once something is voluntarily given away you usually have to fight to get it back -- if getting it back is even possible. I wouldn't even own a car with an OnStar module installed in it. I own an old, pre-GPS enabled phone and pray daily that it doens't wonk out on me. Perhaps "they" already have myriads of information on me but I don't have to voluntarily give them more or make it easier for them. Last edited by gastan; 03-22-2010 at 02:42 PM.

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03-22-2010, 07:46 AM	#2
mr ploppy Feral Underclass Posts: 3,622 Karma: 26821535 Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Yorkshire, tha noz Device: 2nd hand paperback	I lost interest in Kindles when I found out they could remotely delete books from your device at any time they want to.

03-22-2010, 08:01 AM	#3
Tamara Evangelist Posts: 446 Karma: 1812 Join Date: Dec 2007 Device: iPhone	It sounds like a lot of that paragraph is aimed at people who may have a kindle plus the Kindle app on other devices so they can keep everything synced up.

03-22-2010, 08:29 AM	#4
Sparrow Wizard Posts: 4,395 Karma: 1358132 Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: UK Device: Palm TX, CyBook Gen3	The use of the phrase 'such as' would give me pause - they're only giving you part of the picture.

03-22-2010, 09:40 AM	#7
Mike L Wizard Posts: 1,479 Karma: 3846231 Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Edinburgh, Scotland Device: Kindle 3, Samsung Galaxy	Aren't you all missing the obvious answer: Keep Whispernet switched off.

03-22-2010, 11:20 AM	#8
abookreader Wizard Posts: 1,516 Karma: 2567610 Join Date: Oct 2009 Device: Kindles - Keyboard, Fire, 2-US, iPhone, iPAD	Don't want to fight --- but I'm wondering how this compares to the user agreements with any other device with 3G or wireless access. Or even the non-wireless access companies where you are purchasing and downloading via a computer. What kind of "rights" do those companies have to peer onto your hard drive?

03-22-2010, 01:30 PM	#15
HarryT eBook Enthusiast Posts: 85,544 Karma: 93383043 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: UK Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6	The reason for all this data storage, in case it's escaped anyone's notice, is so that information can be shared and synced between different devices. So if you're reading a book on your Kindle, and then you carry on reading the same book with the Kindle app on an iPhone, you'll automatically start reading at the page you left off at on the Kindle, you'll have all your annotations, etc.

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