The questions are equally as pertinent regarding an ISP, the domain name
servers, or your own machine.
Perhaps asking why your data may be required and what use the detail could
be used for, then using the answer to ask who may wish to collect that
personal data would be more enlightening.
Whilst one starting point could be the details of the clients who purchase
data from Google, an ISP, or adserver, a less than full picture would be
provided as things like e-mail harvesting would not necessarily be
identified. Equally, personalised data from that type of source could also
indicate personalised search results, providing potential for receiving what
somebody else wishes to tell you, rather than all the facts you may find.
As one of many, GMail seemed to be based upon that type of principle if I
recall. i.e. searching mailboxes as a means of providing personalising
services.
Tailoring any service in a controlled way could well lead to many potential
situations of locking people into circumstances they probably would not
freely choose to be in some times, so I suppose tailoring any received
information stream could reduce the frequency of factual recognition when
that occurs.
From one privacy perspective, the other side of the search engine paradox
would seem to be when organisations attempt to stop search engines indexing
their site fully, potentially as one means of producing the image they wish
to achieve on the internet.
To provide some answer for the questions in your penultimate paragraph one
would need to remember reading the details of the Google terms of use and
privacy policy when first using the service, and also maintain an awareness
of any changes made to them, as well as Google doing what those documents
say they will do.
Even acknowledging that the DPA has provisions enabling a data subject to
prevent processing, if a data controller does change their policies in an
unacceptable way, or not follow them at all, can anyone recall any large
group of data subjects upholding those provisions, or is that left to the
limited resources of the ICO or some more esoterical political whim.
Thinking in that way DP practitioners really do have a great deal of
responsibility in maintaining an organisations ethical stance.
Ian W
> -----Original Message-----
> From: This list is for those interested in Data Protection
> issues [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Tim Trent
> Sent: 18 November 2005 23:24
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Is Google Likely to break EEA laws over this?
>
>
> Google Analytics:
>
> It's crept out by stealth marketing. It is the previously
> costly "Urchin" system released in zero cost format.
>
> Install a code snippet on the web pages you as webmaster want
> to analyse, and Google "does the rest" via its array of
> ginormous machines worldwide, and gives webmasters awesome
> visitor stats. Well I imagine it will when it actually starts
> working!
>
> I've switched 3 sites on now. I have placed the code on 2!
> The site I have not put the code on Big G says has the code!
> The other two it says have not. But that is by the way.
>
> Google can now track pretty much everything about a surfer's
> session on a site. The only thing they lack, surely, is the
> ability to look up the relationship between your IP address
> and your identity!
>
> Imagine if it could link you to your surfing pattern. Imagine
> the immense power for marketing. Or for something else.
>
> If you use Gmail (oops, Googlemail for the UK) or a Google
> group or ~gasp~ a Google search during your surfing session
> could they associate your ID there with your personal data?
> I'm not technical enough to know. But if they can, and then
> can track your behaviour through web sites what then?
>
> Is Google exporting (or likely to be exporting) personal data
> from the EEA? Have I somewhere consented to their being able
> to find out about me? I don't remember that using Google at
> all as a surfer meant I gave any consents. And I certainly
> didn't consent for them to know about my health (medical
> sites), sexual habits (don't ask!), Trade Union Membership
> (sites) etc etc etc.
>
> Or am I just paranoid? And if I'm paranoid, what then?
> Everyone says I am, but I'm not. Really.
>
>
>
> Tim Trent - Consultant
> Direct: +44(0)1344 392644 Mobile:+44(0)7710 126618
> email: [log in to unmask]
> <blocked::mailto:[log in to unmask]>
> Marketing Improvement Limited, Abbey House, Grenville Place,
> Bracknell, United Kingdom, RG12 1BP
> <blocked::http://www.marketingimprovement.com/>
> http://www.marketingimprovement.com
>
>
>
>
>
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