Google Fights Back • Hacker News Board

Re: Google Fights Back

#31

Post by falcolas » Wed, May 08, 2019, 5:04 PM UTC

gambler wrote: post #21

>It all begins with our mission to organize the world’s information and make it universally accessible and useful, and today, our mission feels as relevant as ever. I said this 15 years ago and I will repeat it again. Google is like a man selling boats after a dam brake. They are profiting by managing the problem, not by fixing it. It is to their benefit if the problem actually gets worse. In other words, looking at…

Google is also holding the plunger that helped create the dam breakage. Not to mention the pry-bars being applied to any attempts to fix the dam.

EDIT: For those who want to downvote, consider that the vast majority of Google's revenue comes from the use of your personal information to target you with ads, and that most of the advances in ad targeting using personal data have been made by Google.

Re: Google Fights Back

#32

Post by lostmsu » Wed, May 08, 2019, 5:04 PM UTC

gambler wrote: post #21

>It all begins with our mission to organize the world’s information and make it universally accessible and useful, and today, our mission feels as relevant as ever. I said this 15 years ago and I will repeat it again. Google is like a man selling boats after a dam brake. They are profiting by managing the problem, not by fixing it. It is to their benefit if the problem actually gets worse. In other words, looking at…

Also

> our mission to organize the world’s information and make it universally accessible

to Google

Re: Google Fights Back

#33

Post by kitotik » Wed, May 08, 2019, 5:04 PM UTC

bovermyer wrote: post #13

I'm impressed with the direction Google is taking, and how they've pivoted in the face of public awareness of privacy concerns. I like the Google products and services that I use. There are some that I miss (Reader) and some that just confuse me (Bookmarks), but the core works for me. Based on commentary I've seen, I may be the only person on Hacker News to think so. Regardless, I'm hopeful for the future.

Google pivoted? When? And from what to what?

Still a company that collects and sells consumer data and ads right?

Re: Google Fights Back

#34

Post by oblio » Wed, May 08, 2019, 5:04 PM UTC

kerkeslager wrote: post #6

> The implicit message was clear: “Yes, we have all of your data, but the fact we have all of your data is a good thing, because it allows us to make your life easier.” This is why a) free/libre software and b) Moore's law are important. Trading privacy for convenience is a real trade you can make right now, and nobody benefits from pretending it isn't--the first step to fixing that problem is to admit it exists. But…

Moore's Law died 5 years ago. And services completely negate Open Source.

Re: Google Fights Back

#35

Post by the_duke » Wed, May 08, 2019, 5:05 PM UTC

gcbw2 wrote: post #22

areoform wrote: post #7

Google owns my soul. Their boxes know when I sleep, when I wake, how much I exercise, what I listen to, my innermost thoughts, my chats with loved ones, what I watched on Netflix last night, what my company does, the flu I have at the moment, what the hypochondriac in me looks up in the middle of the night, what I buy, whom I call, what I spend money on, where I spend it... I nominally pay for these services, but I s…

> what happens when google is Google no more? Google already have many, many advertising partners to whom they gladly provide your location and other data. But they anonymize it, so you are safe ;)

> But they anonymize it, so you are safe

For now...

Re: Google Fights Back

#36

Post by dao- » Wed, May 08, 2019, 5:06 PM UTC

hammock wrote: post #24

areoform wrote: post #7

Google owns my soul. Their boxes know when I sleep, when I wake, how much I exercise, what I listen to, my innermost thoughts, my chats with loved ones, what I watched on Netflix last night, what my company does, the flu I have at the moment, what the hypochondriac in me looks up in the middle of the night, what I buy, whom I call, what I spend money on, where I spend it... I nominally pay for these services, but I s…

Your point is well taken, but 100 years will anyone care that you had the flu on May 7 2019? >Who the fuck owns MySpace now? It's all deleted. https://www.theverge.com/2019/3/18/18271023/myspace-music-vi...

If it's, say, 10 instead of 100 years and something more serious than a flu, insurance companies or future employers for instance might care?

Re: Google Fights Back

#37

Post by the_duke » Wed, May 08, 2019, 5:09 PM UTC

ProAm wrote: post #14

Privacy is going to be the most valuable commodity of the 21st century. Google is doing everything in its power to buy/take/borrow that commodity from people (just like FB. Amazon, MS, etc...) They can say things like "We are moving from a company that helps you find answers to a company that helps you get things done…We want our products to work harder for you in the context of your job, your home, and your life, an…

> But I don't buy it.

Actually, I do buy it!

What that actually means is: injecting Google into every aspect of your life.

Would that bring a usability improvement for users? Maybe. But it also gives Google what it craves - all the data they can possibly have about you.

Re: Google Fights Back

#38

Post by TulliusCicero » Wed, May 08, 2019, 5:09 PM UTC

gcbw2 wrote: post #22

areoform wrote: post #7

Google owns my soul. Their boxes know when I sleep, when I wake, how much I exercise, what I listen to, my innermost thoughts, my chats with loved ones, what I watched on Netflix last night, what my company does, the flu I have at the moment, what the hypochondriac in me looks up in the middle of the night, what I buy, whom I call, what I spend money on, where I spend it... I nominally pay for these services, but I s…

> what happens when google is Google no more? Google already have many, many advertising partners to whom they gladly provide your location and other data. But they anonymize it, so you are safe ;)

Generally, Google sells ads against your data, they don't sell the data itself.

Re: Google Fights Back

#39

Post by gjtorikian » Wed, May 08, 2019, 5:09 PM UTC

areoform wrote: post #7

Google owns my soul. Their boxes know when I sleep, when I wake, how much I exercise, what I listen to, my innermost thoughts, my chats with loved ones, what I watched on Netflix last night, what my company does, the flu I have at the moment, what the hypochondriac in me looks up in the middle of the night, what I buy, whom I call, what I spend money on, where I spend it... I nominally pay for these services, but I s…

Curious. What do you think happens when Apple goes under?

Re: Google Fights Back

#40

Post by reaperducer » Wed, May 08, 2019, 5:09 PM UTC

bovermyer wrote: post #13

I'm impressed with the direction Google is taking, and how they've pivoted in the face of public awareness of privacy concerns. I like the Google products and services that I use. There are some that I miss (Reader) and some that just confuse me (Bookmarks), but the core works for me. Based on commentary I've seen, I may be the only person on Hacker News to think so. Regardless, I'm hopeful for the future.

how they've pivoted in the face of public awareness of privacy concerns.

Can you provide some more information about this pivot? I haven't noticed it, and I thought I was paying attention.