Information Age: Is Google the one to yell at?
Been reading up a little bit on Google’s new TOS. And I don’t get what the big deal is.
As I understand it, Google is simply stating that they are using the data that they have on you in one service to pad what they have about you in another. Now, maybe I’m a little naive, but I assumed that’s what they had been doing ever since got my first gMail address back in 2005. More after the jump!
I for one use several of Google’s services, and appreciate integration between them. I’m also a little bit scared about how much information Google has about me, but until they start selling my information to the Government, I’m ok with the level of information they have. I came to grips with the idea that anything I put online is not my own information anymore, it becomes the property of the “INTERNET”.
Obviously I still hold copywright on content I created, but as far as my data being my own, nope. Guys, this is the internet. If you have information online, anyone can (theoretically) access it. That’s a scary, but important fact. If you need to keep your identity secret, then by all means necessary keep it secret. You probably shouldn’t be using Google+ in that case.
Now Google here provides a lot of services. Many are excellent, others are “Yeah, we do that too” products. One thing I have always appreciated is the ability to log into one, and so log into them all! For instance, I get a brand new Android phone (Yeah I know Tasha. 2 more weeks til I break down and buy a myTouch 4g) and all I need to do is sign into my Google account. All of my contacts, mail, docs, etc are synced to the new device, provided the contacts, gmail, docs, etc apps are installed.
That sounds like the future everyone has been waiting for right? Where all our data is right at hand? One word of warning: this may be the future we’ve dreamed of, but remember this: 1984. A Brave New World. Fahrenheit 451.
People, this is the information age. We’ve lost so much in privacy and freedom, in fact we have willingly given it away for the convenience of watching YouTube videos of ticklish kittens on our phones. The flipside is this: All information can be available to others.
So what’s the point of this blog? Really, to ask people to have a bit of sense. Don’t get angry at Google for accepting your data. Don’t get mad at Facebook for accepting your data. Get mad at yourself for willingly giving it to them.
Or don’t. Just keep your private data off the internet.
