This week, Google launched Google Latitude, a new Google Maps feature that lets users share location data with friends, using either a mobile phone or through an interface on iGoogle. (see how it works here) Unsurprisingly, concerns have arisen regarding…
Read More With Latitude, Google Actually Got it (Mostly) Right
Imagine you were in a room with Google's top product and policy folks, and you were asked "What is the one thing Google should do better for users?" What would you suggest? For me, it probably would be for Google…
There has been a lot of movemnet recently regarding how search engines treat the vast amounts of user data they collect. In early 2007, Google announced it would "anonymize" its user search logs after 18-24 months. Later that year, Google…
I recently installed a Time Capsule in my home, and in the process must have been assigned a new IP address by my ISP. As a result, all my Google searches are being served from the German version of Google.…
Read More Having IP Problems with Google? Better Accept a Cookie, and Leave your Name at the Door
This is unbelievable. Google recently released SearchWiki, deployed on the masses without much apparent foresight regarding usability or privacy. While some tweaks have been made, this remains an odd and surprisingly poorly-planned "feature". So, what have the great minds in…
Read More Proof Sergey Brin is Bored: Google SearchWiki with Sound
Google recently launched SearchWiki, allowing users logged into their Google Account to customize their search results by re-ranking, deleting, adding, and commenting on search results. Google states this is an effort to improve user experience, and I'm sure some will…
If I were still in New York City, I'd be excited to attend a debate tomorrow on the proposition that “Google violates its ‘don’t be evil’ motto.” Debaters include Jeff Jarvis, Esther Dyson and Jim Harper (against the motion), and…
Read More Debate: Does Google Violate its “Don’t Be Evil” Motto?
Google announced a new tool, Google Flu Trends, that purports to track flu activity across the United States. By analyzing flu-related search trends, Google has been able to map a close relationship between the frequency of flu search queries and…
A collection of information and communication companies, advocacy groups, and academic centers have announced the formation of the Global Network Initiative, aimed at protecting free expression and privacy on the Internet on a global scale. From the announcement: In an…
Read More Global Network Initiative Promises to Protect Privacy and Freedom of Expression Online
I’ve been ridiculously busy lately, and need to quickly catch up on some recent items of note: Scientific American has a nice special issue dedicated to "the future of privacy." Nothing new here for most privacy scholars, but it is…
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