February 22, 2005 – MichaelZimmer.org

Google Calendar Next?

Posted by Michael Zimmeron February 22, 2005in Privacy, Search Engines

Search Engine News reports speculation that Google might soon launch its own Calendar tool. If true, I'm sure it'll be a useful and attractive tool, likely based on Apple's iCal calendar program. What this also means, however, is that Google…

France’s Top Librarian Attacks Google Online Library

Posted by Michael Zimmeron February 22, 2005in Information Ethics, Libraries, Search Engines

TechNewsWorld reports that The National Library of France is not happy with Google's effort to scan and integrate millions of books into its Web search. Jean-Noel Jeanneney, President of the library, wrote in an editorial that he is concerned Google's…

More Over-Reliance on “Calculative Thinking” of Technology

Posted by Michael Zimmeron February 22, 2005in Values In Design

Building on this discussion of the dangers with our reliance on the calculative thinking of technology over human reason, Techdirt finds another example courtesy of the Denver police:They're blaming a computer glitch for not helping them connect a series of…

The ChoicePoint Data Security Breach: What It Means for You, and How to Find Out What ChoicePoint Knows about You

Posted by Michael Zimmeron February 22, 2005in Internet, Privacy

In the aftermath of the ChoicePoint security breach(here and here), the Privacy Rights Clearinghouse has produced a lengthy page on what the incident means to you and what data aggregators like ChoicePoint may have on you:Many consumers who contact the…

Call to add privacy rights to Japan’s constitution

Posted by Michael Zimmeron February 22, 2005in Information Law & Policy, Privacy

ComuterWorld reports that a senior legislator in Japan is calling for the addition of data privacy rights to the country's constitution:An influential Japanese politician earlier this month called for the right to information privacy to be added to the country's…

Stop Getting Credit Card Offers

Posted by Michael Zimmeron February 22, 2005in Internet, Privacy

The major credit bureaus have the right to sell your personal information to credit card and insurance companies, resulting in the deluge of junk mail. But you have the right to exclude your name from preapproval lists (either permanently or…