[LINK] Google chief: only miscreants worry about net privacy

[Bernard Robertson-Dunn]

Google chief: only miscreants worry about net privacy
'If you don't want anyone to know, don't do it'
By Cade Metz in San Francisco
7th December 2009 19:56 GMT
The Register
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2009/12/07/schmidt_on_privacy/

If you're concerned about Google retaining your personal data, then you 
must be doing something you shouldn't be doing. At least that's the word 
from Google CEO Eric Schmidt.

"If you have something that you don't want anyone to know, maybe you 
shouldn't be doing it in the first place," Schmidt tells CNBC, sparking 
howls of incredulity from the likes of Gawker.

But the bigger news may be that Schmidt has actually admitted there are 
cases where the search giant is forced to release your personal data.

"If you really need that kind of privacy, the reality is that search 
engines - including Google - do retain this information for some time 
and it's important, for example, that we are all subject in the United 
States to the Patriot Act and it is possible that all that information 
could be made available to the authorities."

There's also the possibility of subpoenas. And hacks. But if any of this 
bothers you, you should be ashamed of yourself. According to Eric Schmidt.

Gawker highlights the irony of Schmidt's typically haughty 
proclamations. After all, this is the man who banned CNet for a year 
after the news site published information about him it had gleaned from, 
yes, Google.

But the larger point here is that Schmidt isn't even addressing the 
issue at hand. Per usual. When the privacy question appears, Google 
likes to talk about the people asking the questions. But the problem 
lies elsewhere: with the millions upon millions blissfully unaware of 
the questions.

If you're concerned about your online privacy, you can always put the 
kibosh on Google's tracking cookies. You can avoid signing in to Google 
accounts. And, yes, you can avoid using Google for anything Eric Schmidt 
thinks you shouldn't be doing. But most web users don't even realize 
Google is hoarding their data.

CNBC asks Schmidt: "People are treating Google like their most trusted 
friend. Should they be?" But he answers by scoffing at those who don't 
trust Google at all.

Not that you'd expect anything less. As always, Schmidt's 
holier-than-thou attitude is wonderfully amusing. Except that it's not.

-- 
 
Regards
brd

Bernard Robertson-Dunn
Canberra Australia
brd at iimetro.com.au