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…
Category: Privacy
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…
Read More NYT: Increasingly, Internet’s Data Trail Leads to Court
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…
Public Comments on RFID Passports are…Public
The government's plans to institute passports with RFID chips were open for public comment since last February. The public feedback was overwhelmingly negative, noting concerns over both security and privacy. In an odd bit of irony, most of the public…
More on Search Engine IP Logging
John Battelle did some digging for a reader who wondered whether Google (and search engines in general) could easily match search terms with IP addresses, and vice versa. Here are the questions Battelle bounced off his contacts at Google:"Given a…
Love/Hate relationship with RFID
This Doctor Fun cartoon does a good job depicting our culture's love/hate relationship with RFID tags. Reminds me of that Spanish nightclub offering to implant RFID tags in patrons' wrists so they don't have to be bothered with carrying wallets…
Why IP Address Logging is a Big Deal
Adam Fields has an excellent post discussing why you should be concerned about the fact that your IP address can (and likely is) being tracked by online companies, such as Google. This is such an important topic, I will provide…
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