Internet – Page 17 – MichaelZimmer.org

Tinkering Web Content – Greasemonkey

Posted by Michael Zimmeron May 17, 2005in Internet

In this post on Google Autolink, Dan Gillmor mentions his support of "user-modifiable Web content once it's reached the user's computer." The basic argument here is that once a website's content is called by your browser and resides on your…

Ontology is Overrated: Categories, Links, and Tags

Posted by Michael Zimmeron May 17, 2005in Internet, Social Media

The growth of tagging (also referred to as social bookmarking or folksonomy) has received increased media attention recently. CNN claims tagging "could be our salvation as we attempt to sift through the growing clutter of data we're amassing on our…

Your Identity, Open to All

Posted by Michael Zimmeron May 9, 2005in Internet, Privacy

This Wired News article features a frightening interview with the owners of a privacy-threatening search engine Zaba Search [I'm not going to encourage its use by providing a link]. Zaba Search allows users to uncover an individual's personal information -…

Schneier on Real ID

Posted by Michael Zimmeron May 9, 2005in Internet, Social Media

For those concerned or otherwise interested in the REAL ID Act, which establishes uniform standards for state driver's licenses, effectively creating a national ID card, you must read Bruce Schneier's thought-provoking analysis. Highlights include:It's a bad idea, and is going…

How “search” is redefining the Web — and our lives

Posted by Michael Zimmeron May 3, 2005in Internet, Search Engines, Values In Design

The Seattle Times had an article this weekend on "How 'search' is redefining the Web — and our lives." It is a well-written piece and provides a succinct history of the search engine industry, but ,as is typical, these kinds…

Google TrustRank

Posted by Michael Zimmeron April 29, 2005in Internet, Search Engines, Values In Design

Google registered a trademark for the word "TrustRank," as Search Engine Watch and Google Blogoscoped discuss. I agree with the speculation that TrustRank sounds like a more social variant of the link-based PageRank algorithm Google relies on for search results.…

ChoicePoint to Allow People Access, but Questions Remain

Posted by Michael Zimmeron March 31, 2005in Internet, Privacy

The AP is reporting that ChoicePoint will allow consumers to access and review their personal information on file with the data aggregation company. "You will receive the reports that we have on you," Don McGuffey, the firm's vice president for…

Online Shopping Cart Company Fined For Selling User Data

Posted by Michael Zimmeron March 10, 2005in Internet, Privacy

TechDirt reports that an online shopping cart company has been fined by the FTC for selling user data to telemarketers and junk mailers without permission. Apparently, even if the website used to purchase something has a privacy policy and "opt…

ChoicePoint to give up some personal data sales

Posted by Michael Zimmeron March 5, 2005in Internet, Privacy

Finally, an encouraging development from the ChoicePoint fiasco. InfoWorld reports that ChoicePoint will stop selling sensitive consumer data to many of its customers, except when that data helps complete a consumer transaction or helps government or law enforcement. Perhaps an…

Choicepoint’s CISO Interview & “Social Hacking”

Posted by Michael Zimmeron March 1, 2005in Internet, Privacy

ChoicePoint's CISO, Richard Baich, is interviewed by SecuritySearch.com, where he makes his case that the ChoicePoint fiasco is not a security or hacking issue:This is not an information security issue. My biggest concern is the impact this has on the…