Comments on: Google Dashboard: Convenient? Yes. Transparency, Choice and Control? Not so much. http://michaelzimmer.org/2009/11/05/google-dashboard-convenient-yes-transparency-choice-and-control-not-so-much/ information ethics : new media : privacy : values in design : 2.0 Thu, 18 Mar 2010 11:34:21 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Fred http://michaelzimmer.org/2009/11/05/google-dashboard-convenient-yes-transparency-choice-and-control-not-so-much/comment-page-1/#comment-160350 Fred Thu, 05 Nov 2009 22:42:32 +0000 http://michaelzimmer.org/?p=1569#comment-160350 Michael, I'm glad you're writing about this. It strikes me that the "concession" may create incorrect assumptions about Google's personal data store. As Google states, the only information stored is actions associated with your logged in account - so, as you note, what about web history when you don't have web history enabled? Or what about the email conversations associated with my account that reside in other users' inboxes? By creating this interface, Google gets to functionally define the "sense" of information collection/retention. That is, their sense of the boundaries of collection will be informed by the interface. But, as you note, this interface minimizes the true extent of data retention, including data retained under the guidelines they specify in their cutesy video. Michael, I’m glad you’re writing about this. It strikes me that the “concession” may create incorrect assumptions about Google’s personal data store. As Google states, the only information stored is actions associated with your logged in account – so, as you note, what about web history when you don’t have web history enabled? Or what about the email conversations associated with my account that reside in other users’ inboxes?

By creating this interface, Google gets to functionally define the “sense” of information collection/retention. That is, their sense of the boundaries of collection will be informed by the interface. But, as you note, this interface minimizes the true extent of data retention, including data retained under the guidelines they specify in their cutesy video.

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