Google and Yet Another Privacy Concern

http://www.usatoday.com/tech/news/story/2012-01-11/google-social-search/52506216/1

Summary:

These days one can learn about anything simply by “Googling” it.  Suppose, for example, at lunch one day, a colleague references “critical paths”.  A quick Google search will tell you that a critical path is the optimal sequence of project activities.

But what if a Google search for “critical path” yielded links to posts by members of your Google+ network?  Would you be surprised if one of your Google+ contact’s rant about how confused he (not mentioning names!) was reading about critical paths for his upcoming MBA project management class on Saturday was one of the top hits on your search?

Earlier this year Google launched a personalized search feature that includes photos, comments and news posted by a user’s Google+ contacts.  Google claims that it is trying to “make searches deeper and more personalized” for its users.  However, the search changes have not come without controversy.  As one might suspect, privacy concerns are at the height of the uproar.

Analysis:

Are there any privacy issues that arise from this type of enhancement?  The Electronic Privacy Information Center (EPIC) in Washington, D. C. believes so.  The Electronic Privacy Information Center, a public interest research center that works to protect privacy, the First Amendment and other constitutional values1, has filed a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission.  In the letter, the EPIC writes “Google’s business practices raise concerns related to both competition and the implementation of the Commission’s consent order” 2.  This is a reference to the March 2011 settlement between the FTC and Google that required Google to “implement a comprehensive privacy program, and calls for regular, independent privacy audits for the next 20 years”. 3

Is this yet another example of Google getting right up to the creepy line but not crossing it?A quick “Bing” search yields several hits on examples in which Google has invaded individuals’ privacy.  Take, for example, the 2010 instance where it was discovered that Google field analysts were gathering personal and commercial data while accessing individuals’ and businesses’ unprotected Wi-Fi networks. 5 Initially Google said that it was obtaining Wi-Fi location information for Google Map’s “My Location” cell phone feature.  But later it was discovered that Google had obtained some 600 million gigabytes of personal and commercial data.  Google faced international backlash when a federal agency in Germany insisted that Google begin to disclose such practices as well as disclose the information that it has obtained.  And Ireland requested that all information that Google obtained in its country be destroyed (which Google obliged to).  The US, on the contrary, does not have a federal agency that regulates Internet privacy.

However, what expectations of privacy can one expect on the Internet?  The rate at which technology rapidly and exponentially progresses is difficult for the law and regulators to keep up with.  I believe that having an account with a social network comes with certain responsibilities.  As an individual, I am accountable for the photos and comments that I post, and I am accountable for maintaining the privacy settings of my account (given they are offered).  However, if the social network owns a search engine, I have the expectation that my information will not pop up as a search result.  And lastly, and perhaps most importantly, I do not expect any Internet company to obtain information about me by accessing my home or work Wi-Fi network.  Yes, Eric Schmidt, Google CEO, I find that in this instance, and in many others too numerous to name, Google has crossed the creepy line.  What do you think?

References:

  1. http://epic.org/epic/about.html
  2. http://epic.org/2012/01/epic-urges-trade-commission-to.html
  3. http://www.ftc.gov/opa/2011/03/google.shtm
  4. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/11/04/google-ceo-eric-schmidt-privacy_n_776924.html
  5. http://lastwatchdog.com/google-facing-global-backlash-wi-fi-war-driving-campaign/

Google Now Knows What You Did Last Summer!!!

Heavy.com

Google Now is now a direct competitor to Apple’s Siri. Google Now is an intelligent virtual personal assistant similar to Siri. Recently Google Now became available on iOS for iPhones and iPads.

Google Now access a lot of personal information on someone’s iPhone/iPad. There are many privacy issues related to the use of Google Now. Google Now analyzes your browsing history, mail, calendar events, and other activity on your iOS device to “predict” information that you will need before you even think about needing it.

In order to begin using Google Now and iOS, you must first open Google Search, where Google Now appears at the bottom of the screen as a stack of cards. You swipe the stack of cards in order to access the main feature of Google Now, the “cards.”

Here is an example of how Google Now is your personal assistant: You have meeting scheduled for later today in Aurora. The meeting is scheduled in your Calendar app. Google Now accesses your calendar and from the information that it obtains, it creates a “card” that gives you map, directions, and current traffic conditions to the meeting. When you repeatedly search for a particular sports team’s score on the internet, Google Now automatically displays the previous night’s final score on a “card.” If Google Now detects that you are in a foreign country, it will provide a “card” with a translator and a currency convertor.

Readwrite.com
Google Now does allow you to select what information you share with Google Now. However, the less information you provide to Google Now, the less useful, reliable, and efficient it becomes.

Google Now can be a very convenient tool for everyone. However, Google Now on iOS does not allow you to send e-mails using only your voice and you cannot access with the push of the “Home” button like you can with Siri. Google Now also only works with other Google products, such as Google Calendar. It was also released with glitches and users have complained of battery problems when using Google Now.

While I can see how Google Now can be a great convenience for me, I cannot get past the fact of how much information it will obtain from my iPhone. That information could be stored on Google’s server for years and it could sell that information to advertising firms that would creep me out with very personalized ads. Perhaps if my information was kept on my phone and it never went through Google’s servers, I would be more open to using it.

Would you be willing to provide extensive amounts of information in order to use Google Now? Are you concerned with your privacy in this technological world? What can Google do to alleviate the privacy concerns of its customers? Should Google be competing directly with Apple’s Siri on Apple’s own products? Is this Google’s strategy to win over Apple consumers? Did Google release Google Now on iOS prematurely since it still has bugs and is only compatible with Google services?

 

Sources:

Google Now Takes On Apple’s Siri by Rich Jaroslovsky: http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-05-08/google-now-takes-on-apple-s-siri-rich-jaroslovsky.html

(Image) Google Now Opens Up To iPhone And iPad Users by Taylor Hatmaker: http://readwrite.com/2013/04/29/google-now-ios-iphone

Google Now for iOS: 5 Fast Facts You Need to Know by Karen Tumbokon: http://www.heavy.com/tech/2013/03/google-now-for-ios-5-fast-facts-you-need-to-know/

How Will Consumer’s Transparency Influence Google “Glass” Demand?

 

 

Since 1998, Google has had a mission “to organize the world’s information and make it universally accessible and useful”. Over the years many would say this goal has been accomplished. Therefore, it is no surprise that Google has “earned their keep” among internet users and has become the face of many home internet search engines around the world. Now Google is stemming off the confines of their internet browser and will be showing the world an entirely new meaning of their mission with Google Glass. With Glass, there are people who think Google will literally be the face of the world for years to come.

 

In my opinion, the idea behind Google Glass is not as ground-breaking of a product as many have made it out to be. The idea for a wearable recording product has been introduced to the market already through Oakley Video camera glasses X300, and the Go Pro Head Video Camera. Also, we have seen wearable headsets for talking on the phone introduced already with technology such as Bluetooth headsets, etc.

 

However, I think Google’s innovation lies in their ability to incorporate and capitalize on their already previously established products using Glass. With features such as their voice command technology being synced with “Google Translate”, their digital voice assistant (“Google Now “) being incorporated to help keep track of your daily habits, “Google Maps” being the products GPS system, and even the Google search engine being at the consumers disposal to use when seeking information from their Glass device. Also, Glass will be able to meet the modern day needs of the cell phone for consumers with technology that lets you record and take pictures instantly. To me the idea behind the quality function deployment of this product is brilliant because it meets the modern day needs for cell phone consumers, and also meets the needs for Google’s consumers and translates all of this into one “grand-daddy” product.

 

But what do you think about the target design of the product? How do you feel about people wearing a live streaming, recordable device on their face? One parent commented, “As a parent, the thought of Google Glasses being anywhere near a place where my small children exposed themselves in the open like a restroom scares the heck out of me”. I think this parents concern is valid and so does Google.

Google has been working a way to tackle this issue of privacy through releasing their product to Google’s developers, journalists and a few other early adopters to test. While there still hasn’t been any release of       information about Google deciding a technological way to fix this, there have been suggestions of adapting etiquette techniques of when and where to take them off.

 

To me it seems unrealistic that everyone will obey “Glass Etiquette.” Also, adapting etiquette techniques could take away the sense of “freedom” Glass truly offers for consumers. If certain restaurants, bars, coffee shops, etc, don’t allow the device to be worn, it seems owning one would be more of a hassle. Thus, this issue of privacy could dramatically impact the demand for their product and Glass’s competitive advantage in the technological industry.

 

If there were restrictions implemented to where Glass can be use, would you as the consumer feel like the product has met your satisfaction? How will this issue of privacy effect the product life cycle of Glass? Why do you foresee a long product life cycle or a short product life cycle?

 

 

 http://www.nbcnews.com/technology/wear-it-well-time-establish-google-glass-etiquette-6C9780067

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/tech/slideshow/googleglass/Google-Glass-7-cool-features/Google-Glass-7-cool-features/itslideshow/18609271.cms

http://www.zdnet.com/google-glass-privacy-concerns-come-to-the-head-7000014431/

 http://www.google.com/about/company/