Google Desktop privacy branded 'unacceptable'

Dom · Oct 16, 2004, 06:00 AM

Google's Desktop represents a privacy disaster just waiting to happen, a rival has warned. David Burns, Copernic CEO, says users should know that the giant ad broker intends to mix public and private queries in the future, leveraging its key moneyspinning product: contextual advertising.

"If you lined people and said, 'Stick your hand up if you want Google to know what pictures you have, and what MP3 files you have,' I don't think many would." Burns had offered these capabilities to partners before, but received some pushback.
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"Major brands don't want to compromise their reputation. We've offered this in the past to potential partners, and had a major PC hardware company and major portals say 'No, we can't do this'", Burns told us.

With the subpoena-happy RIAA getting support from state law enforcement in its war on copyright infringers, Google represents a single point of compromise for millions of file traders.

Copernic offers a native Windows search application both as a free download and as a branded offering to partners, and has toyed with merging the two before. But it's realized personal archives are very different to Google's snapshot of the web - and the queries are different too.

"I don't deny desktop and web on the same page is attractive," he added. "But we're not going to do it."

[Read More]

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Source: TheRegister

Matth · Oct 16, 2004, 03:56 PM

Just think....

Google in your web searching
Google in your browser (toolbar)
Google in your email (Gmail)
Google on your desktop

And Google DO use tracking cookies, with an exceptionally long expiry.

Should you trust them - NO WAY!

EcPercy · Oct 16, 2004, 07:18 PM

Gmail and google.com are good enough. I will not require any of their personalization services...

Oct 16, 2004, 06:00 AM	#1
Dom DriverHeaven Extreme Member Join Date: Jun 2002 Posts: 12,940 Rep Power: 0	Google Desktop privacy branded 'unacceptable' Google's Desktop represents a privacy disaster just waiting to happen, a rival has warned. David Burns, Copernic CEO, says users should know that the giant ad broker intends to mix public and private queries in the future, leveraging its key moneyspinning product: contextual advertising. "If you lined people and said, 'Stick your hand up if you want Google to know what pictures you have, and what MP3 files you have,' I don't think many would." Burns had offered these capabilities to partners before, but received some pushback. Click to Visit "Major brands don't want to compromise their reputation. We've offered this in the past to potential partners, and had a major PC hardware company and major portals say 'No, we can't do this'", Burns told us. With the subpoena-happy RIAA getting support from state law enforcement in its war on copyright infringers, Google represents a single point of compromise for millions of file traders. Copernic offers a native Windows search application both as a free download and as a branded offering to partners, and has toyed with merging the two before. But it's realized personal archives are very different to Google's snapshot of the web - and the queries are different too. "I don't deny desktop and web on the same page is attractive," he added. "But we're not going to do it." [Read More] ________________________ Source: TheRegister

Oct 16, 2004, 03:56 PM	#2
Matth Flash Banner Hater Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: UK Posts: 3,410 Rep Power: 91 System Specs	Just think.... Google in your web searching Google in your browser (toolbar) Google in your email (Gmail) Google on your desktop And Google DO use tracking cookies, with an exceptionally long expiry. Should you trust them - NO WAY!

Oct 16, 2004, 07:18 PM	#3
EcPercy HardwareHeaven Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Iraq Posts: 1,535 Rep Power: 64	Gmail and google.com are good enough. I will not require any of their personalization services...