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Only naughty people should be afraid of Google, says CEO Eric Schmidt
If there was ever a sign that tech companies are often run by mad-hatter evangelists, this is it: Eric Schmidt, Google's illustrious and incredibly successful CEO has finally spoken out about our continued concerns of privacy. And he isn't being gentle about it either. "If you have something that you don't want anyone to know, maybe you shouldn't be doing it in the first place," Schmidt said in an interview with CNBC.
In a self-righteous and condescending way, he is right. As long as you're trying to avoid time in jail. The problem is, most of us aren't criminals. Most of us aren't Googling for child pornography or furry snuff films. The vast majority of the Internet is comprised of innocent and hapless bystanders, logging into MSN Messenger or Facebook to chat with family and friends, or whiling away the hours on FarmVille.
They're not doing anything wrong, but does that make it OK to collect vast quantities of data about them? It is Google's livelihood, to match ads to its users -- but most of us don't know that. Our mothers and fathers don't know that those ads on Facebook or Google are specifically tailored to them. Their entire history of surfing on the Web, processed, boiled down and condensed into a little box of text.
In my mind, it's like someone hiring a private investigator to follow you. Even if you don't do anything illegal while under their surveillance, does that make it OK? Google is always pretty evasive when it comes to the issue of privacy, and Eric Schmidt's stunning statement certainly won't help allay our growing concerns.
At the time of publishing I haven't been able to find a video of the full interview on CNBC, but there's a short 30-second clip over on Gawker.
[via The Register]
Comments
29
Subscribe to commentsAndrewDec 9th 2009 1:47PM
To whit: use your own search engine to find out about jailed bloggers, many of whom were using your own tool.
http://www.google.com/search?q=blogger+jailed
You've already been subpoena'd, and went through hell to fight it.
RonnieDec 9th 2009 2:35PM
whether what I am looking at or talking about, etc etc is wrong or not. I don't want you knowing about what I do in my spare time. If i enjoy looking at midget porn that's no one's business but my own. thanks, have a nice day.
OrbitDec 9th 2009 2:59PM
I've never been one of those really distrustful of everything Google does. With that says this is just terrible. My guess is he just blurted it out of frustration due to years and years of "Google invades my privacy, Google invades my privacy" complaints but this is just inexcusable.
Right to privacy is one of the pillars of our society and the "well as long as you're not breaking any laws you should't have a problem" is simplistic and foolish as well as dangerous. You could apply the same logic to police searches without warrants or wiretaps.
What a gaffe by Schmidt. This just gives those paranoid of Google more ammo.
techpopsDec 9th 2009 9:36PM
Completely agree it was just a blunder by him but an interesting one.
I use most of Google services and could be considered a fanboy as I'd cry and bite the pillow if you took all their services away but I am still aware that people have to highlight issues that crop up around privacy online and even fight it where necessary. I wouldn't label everyone that isn't a fanboy some kind of delusional paranoid, that's just really unfair.
RowedaheliconDec 10th 2009 3:40AM
Another Furry refrence ;)
Sebastian AnthonyDec 10th 2009 8:23AM
*wink*
FoxgloveDec 10th 2009 9:27AM
Your constant references to furries in your posts are beginning to scare me Sebastian, i'd hate to see what you've been googling D:
Sebastian AnthonyDec 10th 2009 9:28AM
Chrome incognito mode...!
ask4asiaDec 11th 2009 3:11AM
I think the earlier we all realised the world has indeed become a living room, the better for us all!
1st, in the living room we can have so much gossiping like google is doing, we can have so much murmuring like most people are doing and we can have people overconscious of others thought of them like hackers, porno players, frausters, suicide bombers et al, are also doing!
However, not only ill-hearted people have self consciousness in a living room..d phlegmatic, d new faces and some others too sometimes do!
So I think we should not critises a gossip because if all he can see is good, he will only gossip so!..therefore, let the living room not be dead in silence but let the gossip be fair to all! Let's always remind the gossip of his responsibility to keep the home safe for all too, because if the use of a thing is forgetten, the abuse of it will sneak in like a wishful thief!