Google Plus: Tagging automatically shares private photos • Hacker News Board

Re: Google Plus: Tagging automatically shares private photos

#91

Post by icebraining » Mon, Jul 25, 2011, 9:45 AM UTC

georgemcbay wrote: post #77

icebraining wrote: post #50

Earlier quoted context omitted.

So, are you okay with the idea of the entire world seeing all your emails, or don't you use email?

I wouldn't say I'm "okay" with the idea of the entire world seeing all of my emails, but I accept that it is a very real possibility given the extremely insecure nature of SMTP and the other protocols involved in email handling, so I don't send (or request) anything via email that is very private.

The same can be said about the pictures: the fact that putting them online is insecure doesn't mean people have to be OK with their provider sharing stuff forcibly.

Not to mention that the transport mechanism for pictures on G+ is much safer than email, since it only goes through one server (unlike email, where there's usually at least two MTAs), and all transmission is done through HTTPS.

Re: Google Plus: Tagging automatically shares private photos

#92

Post by jodrellblank » Mon, Jul 25, 2011, 11:37 AM UTC

patio11 wrote: post #30

andrewcooke wrote: post #27

Earlier quoted context omitted.

you're not being "forced" to. simply don't tag that person.

I think it is more of a managing expectations issue. Consider another situation: you pay me $25 via check. I can now debit your bank account for $100,000. Surprised? "Don't write checks." doesn't quite cover it, does it? P.S. Don't write checks.

"Don't write checks." doesn't quite cover it, does it?

It seems to cover it rather well.

Re: Google Plus: Tagging automatically shares private photos

#93

Post by Flenser » Mon, Jul 25, 2011, 11:42 AM UTC

Flenser wrote: post #90

mlinsey wrote: post #11

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'm with you. This is how it works on Facebook and I suspect this is how the majority of people expect it to work. Not only that, this is not only the behavior I expect but the behavior I want. I suppose it might be OK with me if someone tagged me in a photo that was private just to the person who took it. But it would be a huge, huge problem if someone could tag me in a photo and share it to some circles that didn't…

What if you tagged an embarrassing photo of me, shared it with a circle of hundreds of co-workers (that you excluded me from), and then not only do I not know the picture is out there, but co-workers can see it by visiting my profile and looking at pictures tagged of me? Let's break this down and relate it to physical (they're both real) photos: What if you tagged an embarrassing photo of me Considering only viewing…

Why the downvote? I was trying to say that tagging isn't the problem, it's where the tagged photos are visible.

Re: Google Plus: Tagging automatically shares private photos

#94

Post by kahawe » Mon, Jul 25, 2011, 1:31 PM UTC

BarkMore wrote: post #85

There's more than the privacy issue. If the tagged person does not have a Google+ account, then Google+ sends an email with subject " invited you to join Google+" for every photo tagged. Spammy.

On the other hand at least you get notified that your name and face are now publicly viewable on the intarwebs somewhere. The question is what you can then do about it.

Re: Google Plus: Tagging automatically shares private photos

#95

Post by kahawe » Mon, Jul 25, 2011, 1:37 PM UTC

jurjenh wrote: post #53

sdizdar wrote: post #39

This seems 100% reasonable to me. If somebody tags me I want to see that photo - and the entire album (since context is also important). I don't want that somebody starts taging me on some photos and then sharing these photos with others without me having chance to untag myself.

Before people start forgetting real-world context here: In the physical world, people can and do take photos with you in it. They then get these developed, and may put them in an album with the people identified. You would have absolutely no access to this photo unless they choose to share this with you, however that may be. They can also choose to share it with their friends, possibly even form a presentation with i…

In the real world I can reject having my picture taken and I can demand it to be deleted (under circumstances) and when I am accidentally on somebody's holiday pictures they have no idea who I am anyway.

In the real world, there is no publicly searchable meta-information of my name applied to the pictures you are talking about. Some relatives asking "oh who is that?" is very different than some Nigeria scam "African Prince" looking you up on google+ or suddenly finding a less-than-charming picture of you having become the latest "meme" but no your name is connected to it.