Comments on: With Latitude, Google Actually Got it (Mostly) Right http://michaelzimmer.org/2009/02/06/with-latitude-google-actually-got-it-mostly-right/ information ethics : privacy : new media : values in design : 2.0 Thu, 26 Apr 2012 13:58:09 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: Michael Zimmer http://michaelzimmer.org/2009/02/06/with-latitude-google-actually-got-it-mostly-right/comment-page-1/#comment-158105 Michael Zimmer Sun, 08 Feb 2009 15:25:38 +0000 http://michaelzimmer.org/?p=1050#comment-158105 Thanks for the comment, James. I understand the coercion issue, but certainly employers have had this ability long before Latitude (and ways that are much harder for the employee to notice or switch off themselves). But your "unpleasant surprises" concern is spot-on. Thanks for the comment, James. I understand the coercion issue, but certainly employers have had this ability long before Latitude (and ways that are much harder for the employee to notice or switch off themselves).

But your “unpleasant surprises” concern is spot-on.

]]> By: James Grimmelmann http://michaelzimmer.org/2009/02/06/with-latitude-google-actually-got-it-mostly-right/comment-page-1/#comment-158104 James Grimmelmann Sun, 08 Feb 2009 15:17:18 +0000 http://michaelzimmer.org/?p=1050#comment-158104 I mostly agree with you. I'm a bit concerned about coercion; maybe your employer will openly demand that you carry a Latitude-enabled phone, not just secretly install it. I'm also concerned about unpleasant surprises. Your point for a persistent warning is part of it; people will forget that the phone is telling other people where they are. I really like the "lie about where you are" feature, but the social pressures around it will be interesting. Some friends may be offended if they realize you've activated it -- or try to figure out who you activated it to hide from. (Someone watching closely may well realize you've gone into stealth mode, which is itself a slight privacy issue.) I want to watch this one closely to see how the street makes use of it; the applications and social complexities are likely to be emergent and surprising. I mostly agree with you. I’m a bit concerned about coercion; maybe your employer will openly demand that you carry a Latitude-enabled phone, not just secretly install it. I’m also concerned about unpleasant surprises. Your point for a persistent warning is part of it; people will forget that the phone is telling other people where they are. I really like the “lie about where you are” feature, but the social pressures around it will be interesting. Some friends may be offended if they realize you’ve activated it — or try to figure out who you activated it to hide from. (Someone watching closely may well realize you’ve gone into stealth mode, which is itself a slight privacy issue.) I want to watch this one closely to see how the street makes use of it; the applications and social complexities are likely to be emergent and surprising.

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