Google released a new version of their Desktop software, which includes a feature allowing users to search their files across computers. The service is not activated by default, and (savvy) users can opt to block certain files from being accessible…
Category: Issues
Federal Government Considered Web-surveillance Project
ComputerWord reports that the government was approached by the data-aggregation firm Acxiom to conduct widespread surveillance of web sites discussing topics such as “abortion, racial superiority, politics, religion, immigration, and foreign affairs,” using technology designed to extract business contact information…
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Web Searching: Interdisciplinary Perspectives
I'm co-editing a book on web search engines with Amanda Spink (Professor of Information Technology, Queensland University of Technology): CALL FOR PAPERS Web Searching: Interdisciplinary Perspectives Digital Formations Series. Peter Lang Publishing. Editors: Amanda Spink, Professor of Information Technology, Queensland…
Google Chat History
Google has integrated their chat service (Google Talk) with Gmail, enabling users to view their chat histories from the Gmail interface. This, of course, dispels any question over whether Google archives one's chat history, and opens the door to the…
Panel: The Ethics and Politics of Search Engines
Last summer, I had the great pleasure of attending a 2-week graduate student workshop on Values in Computer and Information System Design hosted by The Center for Science, Technology, and Society at Santa Clara University. A highlight was Terry Winograd's…
On Privatized Toll Roads, Who Owns Your Data?
The New York Times reports that the State of Indiana is considering selling their major toll road to a private company (a Spanish-Australian partnership) that would operate the toll road for a profit for the next 75 years. The privatization…
Is Google Logging Your Text Messages?
A new feature in Google's toolbar extension allows you to send text messages to a mobile device. (I'm not really sure why this is a desired feature...) InsideGoogle has discovered that Google's terms of service gives them the right to…
The Four Major Search Engines on Privacy
Cnet asked each of the major search engine providers about data retention, IP tracking and other user search privacy issues. (I will fully process this later when I have more time) [via John Battelle, and see his similar (and earlier)…
NYT: Increasingly, Internet’s Data Trail Leads to Court
The New York Times has an article today about the privacy of one's online intellectual activities and the increasing tendancy of ISPs and other online service providers to share that information with law enforcement (hopefully only when presented with a…
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If Google Made Cola…and Style Guides
Nathan Weinberg posts his response to Andy Beal's hypothetical about what Google-designed cola would look like. It's quite funny. As it happens, I was discussing style guides with some of my colleagues today, when one joked that he was waiting…
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