News Google plans new research funding

http://www.bit-tech.net/news/bits/2010/02/02/google-plans-new-research-funding/1

Google has announced a series of grants for twelve outside research projects in the areas of machine learning, data collection on mobile handsets, energy efficient computing, and privacy.

 

Privacy?

BAHAHAHAHAHA

 

More Google funding for research in "privacy"?

 

Google Privacy = ensuring that they and only they have ALL your information.

 

For all I care, Google can collect as much information on my browsing habits as they please.

Put it this way... My mobile phone company logs all my text messages and phone calls. My ISP monitors my traffic. When I hand over my Clubcard in Tesco, my purchases are logged. When I walk down the street I'm being watched by CCTV. When I get on the bus at the end of the street, I'm on CCTV again. My employer monitors the building's foyer (and possibly other areas of the building) with CCTV. My employer also monitors my activity on the network/computer systems. When I go to an airport I'm watched for suspicious behaviour and my luggage is scanned. My bank knows my financial history inside and out. My credit card company has detailed information on my credit history. My name and address are available on a publicly-accessible database (the Electoral Register). My letting agency has details of my credit history, as well as my bank account details.

If I wanted to be really concerned about privacy, I would have a lot more to worry about than Google being interested in the porn I happen to be looking for.

The only way to truly have privacy is to disconnect yourself from modern society and live like a hermit.

EDIT: PS, this is not a "dig" at anyone. I just think that people need to get a little perspective on the subject of "privacy".

 

+1000

 

+1 Completely agree with this. With my job I track some of this data on our users myself, and work with others who track who is coming and going from our building etc... Looking out the window I can see no less than 15 CCTV cameras down the street. Who has the data isn't as important as what they do with it.