Another major threat to privacy from The Corporations ;-) And yes, Google has been asked about their capability to read your files, copied from your hardisk via Google Desktop, and they openly stated that while they may not be doing this now their Privacy Policy does not disallow it. In other words, and creepily, they know about the issue and want to reserve the right to read your files in the future.
"Your files searchable from any computer; Government welcomes Google's new feature It appears that controversy over Google and its services and offerings just keep coming. Google has released a new version of its Google Desktop local search application this week. However, what sets this latest release from Google's previous version is that the new desktop search copies known document formats from your computer over to Google's servers. Google says that the feature is designed to be able to help you search for your documents from anywhere -- provided you log in with the account that's associated with the files. The Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) cites this new feature as being extremely dangerous to consumers. Since documents and personal information will be on Google's servers, it will allow government officials to demand that Google hand over information. EFF says: Unless you configure Google Desktop very carefully, and few people will, Google will have copies of your tax returns, love letters, business records, financial and medical files, and whatever other text-based documents the Desktop software can index. The government could then demand these personal files with only a subpoena rather than the search warrant it would need to seize the same things from your home or business, and in many cases you wouldn't even be notified in time to challenge it. According to government laws and acts, privacy for online email and stored information is very limited and only protects consumers in certain areas. Under most circumstances, information is surrendered to government officials when requested. Privacy concerns are on high alert with Google's new Google Desktop. EFF says that the copying feature can be disabled but is difficult to get to and in most cases, users won't even realize that their files are being copied. Upon close examination, Google's privacy policy does not restrict it from actually scanning the files that it copies. Although it is not performing file scans now, Google has not ruled out the possibility that it will not do so in the future for the purposes of producing targeted advertisements. No response from Google so far about the concerns being brought up about its new Google Desktop tool. If you're looking for a nice, lightweight alternative to Google Desktop, you may wish to try Copernic. " ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~| Message: http://www.houseoffusion.com/lists.cfm/link=i:5:196825 Archives: http://www.houseoffusion.com/cf_lists/threads.cfm/5 Subscription: http://www.houseoffusion.com/lists.cfm/link=s:5 Unsubscribe: http://www.houseoffusion.com/cf_lists/unsubscribe.cfm?user=89.70.5 Donations & Support: http://www.houseoffusion.com/tiny.cfm/54
