Rob Sullivan at Search Engine Journal questions whether the new "search across computers" feature of Google's Desktop software really puts users' privacy in jeopardy. Yes, it does. To respond to some of Rob's observations: So what if you have to…
Category: Search Engines
Does Targeted Marketing (with Personal Data) Work?
One of the key arguements for collecting personal search histories is that a "perfect search engine" will use this personal information to deliver more relevant advertisements. The supposition is that the search engines benefit from selling a more detailed profile…
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Google Desktop 3.0 Copies Your Hard Drive
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…
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…
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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