Re: Protesting google groups

On Sun, 07 Aug 2005 06:21:57 -0500, David C. Ullrich
<ullrich@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:

>On Sat, 6 Aug 2005 16:35:02 -0600, "gb7648" <gb7648@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
>
>>the message is stop archiving all groups messages because the way its set up it violates privacy
>
>I know I'm going to regret asking this...
>
>Exactly how does it violate privacy?
>
>(You're not suggesting that messages that you intentionally
>posted on usenet, where you know that anyone anywhere can
>read them, are supposed to be private, are you?)
>
>>and creates miseries in people's lives
>>

To summarize the issue:

By default, Google permanently tracks every search and every site you
visit from such a search. They do this on an individual basis by
assigning each user a (hidden) permanent id. Presumably they do this
just for marketing purposes so they can target ads to you, so that
seems kind of innocent. But they record everything and nothing
expires, so they potentially know a lot about you. For example, the
political websites you've visited based on Google searches would
likely reveal your political leanings.

Of course, this is America, right? So what if they know my vote?
What's to be afraid of?

quasi
.