Comments on: Google Forcing Your Hand, Stealing Your Thumbprint

By: Indu Priya

Indu Priya — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 06:24:41 +0000

I created a Google profile and I observed the same.

Only if I login into gmail, the google search asks if i am me.

By: Josh

Josh — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 16:07:29 +0000

Perhaps if you weren’t logged in to your google mail account while doing the searches it wouldn’t ask you that question?
My test shows that if I am logged out, Google doesn’t know who I am. If I log into gmail then search google asks if I am me and if I want to fill out a profile.
So…. yeah. You’re a paranoid lunatic.

By: Loretta

Loretta — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 17:28:22 +0000

It was bad enough when Google starting giving “customized search results” that match the things we search for and wrapped it up and put a bow on it and said it was all for the internet user’s benefit. That was a crock of crap as much as this is. It’s all for Google’s benefit and their quest to rule the internet.

I used to be such a Google cheerleader. I loved Google, I loved their tools, I still love some of their tools, but every time I type something into that search box I feel like ninjas are going to bust through my roof and propel in the windows.

By: Debbie Newhouse

Debbie Newhouse — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 20:28:40 +0000

HI Lisa,
I was happy to see your post, I reviewed this and felt like Big Brother would soon be reading my diaries. It also appears that once the information is out there, it can be changed but never really deleted.
I am in a wait and see mood for the time.
I will be monitoring and reading the news on this as it develops further. Thanks for writing about what I was thinking, now we know just because we “pause” doesn’t mean we aren’t aware of these new tools.
Here’s to balance!

By: Luke Regan

Luke Regan — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 15:12:41 +0000

I’ve created mine and added ‘Relevant Search Results’ to ’something I can’t find using Google’. Hope this doesn’t affect my ranking ability Kevin.

By: Bill Marshall

Bill Marshall — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 12:04:41 +0000

I’m with you Lisa, letting anyone have the level of personal information that Google seems bent on amassing worries me deeply. I don’t want targeted advertising – actually I don’t want ANY advertising and I worry about an economy that’s based so heavily on it – I ignore it as much as I can. I don’t use my Google account while searching, only ever for using webmaster tools and Analytics. Am seriously considering removing GA from some of my sites. And as for Street View, it can go to hell, we have far too many CCTV cameras around in the UK already without more in the hands of companies we can’t control and who want to join up all the information they can.

By: Jordan Kerr

Jordan Kerr — Sun, 26 Apr 2009 23:18:59 +0000

The article is great. I filled in my profile because I was afraid of the alternative.

Taking it in a slightly different direction – I think a lot of this lack of privacy is making me a better person. For anyone who has read, Pedagogy of the Oppressed it’s like the ‘Cop in the head’. I’ve noticed myself start to self police my own actions/words. Because I work in online marketing I’ve noticed I watch what I say more, I’m trying to be the kind of person that would be happy to have their life opened up to criticism. Being yourself online is a wonderful way to find out who you are, because it gets amplified and reflected back on you.

I don’t necessarily want privacy online. I don’t think we should be too attached to this notion anyway.

By: Wingnut

Wingnut — Sun, 26 Apr 2009 20:35:59 +0000

Haha, yes… I was going to write something like this… but then I had a kid on the 8th and have no time for internets and why I’m days behind. :(

Google will eventually do something really evil to everyone with all the info/power they have. It’s just a matter of time.

By: Shayna Burns

Shayna Burns — Sun, 26 Apr 2009 18:38:22 +0000

Great post! It’s so easy to jump on the bandwagon of a new site or service, but rarely do people take the time to really think about what they are or could be getting into. Thanks! OH P.S. you had me at John Cusack ;)

By: Gerald Weber

Gerald Weber — Sun, 26 Apr 2009 18:07:34 +0000

I noticed my Google profile showing up yesterday when I Google myself and I thought cool. I think the Google profiles are pretty neat but I do understand your position. Google profiles is a stalkers dream come true.