Posted on 08/09/2005 5:24:31 AM PDT by satchmodog9
SAN FRANCISCO - Google Inc. is refusing to speak with reporters at CNET's online news site after it ran a story that used Google's chief executive to illustrate how easily the company's search engine finds personal information.
ADVERTISEMENT
Google told News.com, the online tech news service of CNET Networks Inc., last week that it would not speak to any of its reporters for a year, according to News.com's editor.
Google was angered by a story last month that focused on potential threats the search engine leader's product poses to personal privacy, said Jai Singh, the News.com editor-in-chief.
To demonstrate the point, writer Elinor Mills googled CEO Eric E. Schmidt.
In her story, Mills included a link to Schmidt's home address, his net worth of $1.5 billion and noted that he has attended the Burning Man art festival and is an amateur pilot. Mills said she spent 30 minutes on Google to obtain the information.
"We didn't go out and break into any databases to get this information," Singh said. "This is all publicly available information."
A Google spokesman declined to speak with The Associated Press about the story.
The crux of Mills' story was about the vast amounts of information Google collects that is unavailable to the public. For example, Google software scans user e-mails to learn what kind of advertising might appeal to the user.
Mills wrote in her story that "hackers, zealous government investigators, or even a Google insider who falls short of the company's ethics standards could abuse that information."
Sounds like he didn't like his personal information out there
You are NEVER alone on the Internet, or truly anonymous.
I could have sworn CNET supported some conservative sites. I couldn't remember which ones off the top of my head this morning.
Thrn he's in almost as abad a position as the people for whom the CNET article was writte. At least he has the option of getting his own house (Google) in order.
This is a good reflection of the mindset behind google.
CEO Eric E. Schmidt: shudda wouldda couldda kept yer info more private. Reminds me of a little kid having a temper tantrum. So he cuts off his nose to spite his face. CNET and news.com are major players in tech news. Eric, you sure you want to ignore them for a year?
They are talking about Gmail. I'm sure other email providers do the same if government asks for it and the same abuse accusations apply here as well.
Get a bird's eye view of it (or at least the neighborhood) with Google Earth
When I used to google my screen name I used to get hits on free republic. Don't anymore which is ok with me.
"Google software scans user e-mails"
Sounds scary until you realize it only applies to Google's own G-mail service. If you search on Google for auto parts, you will see a list of auto parts suppliers on the right, sponsored ads. If you use G-mail to write to an auto parts company, you'll also see a list of sponsored ads on the right. So what? Google software scans your search entry, and very similar software scans your e-mail. Big deal.
I dont see what the problem is- the information was publicly known already- the internet just makes it easier to find.
She could have found ALL this information without the internet, but it wouls have taken much longer.
This kind of story is scary because it is exactly the type of story you need to hype over and over before you ask for government control of the information on the internet.
You think Google's bad, try www.zabasearch.com. Enter your name, and it'll give you home addresses, phone numbers, the whole schmeer.
Excuse me?
Create a weapon for everyone else to use on eachother and get angry when someone uses it on you?
Sounds a little naive and sanctimonious at the same time.
Proves that intelligent people still have a lot to learn.
I know all this. And my point is only that nothing is 'free,' nothing is private, and largely everything you do on the Internet can be observed. This may not be as bad as 'web beacons' or other practices, but it's nowhere near private.
So true. I just googled myself and was surprised to find how much stuff came up. It included my name, address, contributions I'd made to the Swiftvets, and a couple of times when the electronic newsletter of an organization I belong to included articles which mentioned me. That was a real surprise because the local group (a part of a national organization) of which I am a member only contains about 80 members and has a website where it posts its monthly newsletter.
Next time use another persons box. You will notice the change. It's almost like it data mines your computer.
That is actually how my wife got interested in me. She googled part of my email address which is part of my FR name and liked some of the things I posted.
nice
This would explain why I don't get any emails.
*lol*
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.