subject: Google's Got The Worst Score In Terms Of Privacy Practices [print this page] As a global leader among server systems, Google has created a website that will "organize the world's information and make it universally accessible and useful." But due to Google's mishandling of intellectual property, its interference with individuals' privacy rights, policies related to censorship, and the enormous amount of energy that it uses to operate the server, the company has recently faced widespread scrutiny from the public and government agencies.
At present, there is no effective enforcement of the existing Internet laws. At the heart of the matter is the fact that Google censored material which was under copyright. When you do an Internet search on a subject, you expect to have access to the full scope of information available.
However, a Google search will give you entire sections of copyrighted books and other materials that have been lifted directly from the original sources, and which are a violation of copyright laws. A number of lawsuits have been filed against Google in relation to this issue, but court opinion on the matter remains divided.
If individuals or companies participate in this type of activity, a server provider such as Google is legally obligated to turn over any information in question. And contained within this information are sites that use IP tracking, which makes it possible for people to identify your location. A system known as nobull-ip-tracking.com/35/index.htm is contained on some of these sites, enabling others to track users' Internet activity at any time - activity that includes the sites they visit, their geographic location, and the people they chat with online.
As a result, Google has been deemed as "hostile to privacy" according to reports like the 2007 Consultation Report, which was done by Privacy International. This is the lowest possible rating that can be given to server providers. The personal information included on these sites is now referred to as a "toxic asset." Recommendations have been made that information should be encrypted in data centers, but no steps have been taken to do this yet.
One of the primary problems is with the storage of cookies and url history even when in the "incognito" mode. Many feel that these tracking devices are limited to a personal computer but, in fact, main servers can also retain not only what one looks up, but also what user looked it up. Since Google has not been in business 32 years, this has created a user data log that is unprecedented will continue to grow until at least 2038.
This latter fact has led to connections between the NSA, FBI, CIA, and local authorities. For those who utilize the Internet for illegal activities, it's easy for authorities to trace contact and obtain IP data for those contacted in order to pull sting operations, which many have heard of happening in recent years. According to Google, however, their tracking of user information is necessary in order to offer the best search features as well as ensure preferences are available when requested.
Anyone working on the Internet today should be aware that everything they do and input is subject to access by various parties. This can include such information as passwords, personal identifying information, and the content of the exchange. Therefore, it is the responsibility of users to ensure that what they input is something they wouldn't mind the world seeing. After all, privacy ultimately starts with the individual.
