Should Google be boycotted?

[freethefly 6]

In light of what Google has been doing, in terms of info-farming and the desire of the Federal Government to know what they know, should they be boycotted? What about other search engines? I can only believe that the others are also farming info on the people who use these search tools. Is this Orwells nightmare come true? Can it be stopped now that it is already in motion? Will people be willing to give it up even though they now know that they are being watched and studied by their own desire for information. Will this thread be placed in an info-file with my name attached? Can I expect Google thugs to kick my door in and whip me with my firewire untill I give in and tell them all that I know?

"...And once you're gone, you can't come back
When you're out of the blue and into the black."
Neil Young

[SpeedRacer 1]

well what is it that you know???

Speed Racer
--------------------------------------------------

[EricTheRed 0]

I'd rather use Google than Yahoo or MSN. At least they're putting up a fight.

illegible usually

[Shotgun 1]

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Will people be willing to give it up even though they now know that they are being watched and studied by their own desire for information.

People are just now figuring this out? I pretty much assume that anything I write in email or PM's, or anything that I search for over the Internet, can be seen at least by certain people if they want to see it. That's just how it works... And I'm pretty sure that "info-farming" was going on before Google even existed, so if you want to boycott anything because of privacy concerns then you should probably boycott the entire Internet.

But I do think it's good that Google is standing up to the government in this case...

[crwtom 0]

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In light of what Google has been doing, in terms of info-farming and the desire of the Federal Government to know what they know, should they be boycotted? What about other search engines?

if anyone should be boycotted it is Yahoo!

As opposed to Google they caved in to the US government,
and didn't even attempt to put up a fight.

Yahoo! also gave up email information on a Chinese reporter
evetually got him a 10 year prison sentence for nothing more
than forwarding a government memo to foreigners.

Google just has the more brilliant minds, the better business
philosophy, and, last but not least, more ethical/social attitudes
as compared to all the others. That's what made them the biggest
of all. I'm not surprised that Google is the one of them all fighting
the snooping and it is a very important fight in their philosophy.

Cheers, T

*******************************************************************
Fear causes hesitation, and hesitation will cause your worst fears to come true

[freethefly 6]

I would think that any person with just the least amount of intelligence would had realized that anything, once entered, will forever be floating in cyber-space. But, what right does the Federal have to any info farmed from search engines? The Feds are using an age old tatic that what they are doing is to "protect the children". They use this anytime they want to gather support from the public as it does tend to play on the hearts of the ill-informed. It has worked for years with their war on marijuana. How soon will they use the patriot act to get to the info they want. I find it very hard to believe that they are only interested to know who is looking at porn. The internet is the new library. They want to know who is searching for info on whatever in cyber-space much like they want to know what books the public is checking out at the public library building. This is just another crumbling brick in the wall of privacy in terms of the government knowing even more of the habits of the people. There is no doubt that everytime we log on that we are being monitored by someone or something and that the line of privacy is thin and blurry. It is also understood that companies have always farmed info from its consumers long before Al Gore invented the internet. Should the government have access to this info in order to "fight" terrorism as I am sure is their true intention. Would someones search for info on Al Qaida label them a terrorist and open them to the abuse of an over reaching government? I often go to Al Jazeera's website as well as other Islamic websites (some extremely radical anti-american). Can I be labeled as an unfriendly, a potential foe of the State. I seriously doubt that it is porn watchers that they are seeking. The Federal government has proven time and time again that they not a true government for the people. How long can Google hold out untill the Feds seek a court order for them to hand over everything in the name of national security? If you're not scared, you should be, even if you've done nothing wrong.

"...And once you're gone, you can't come back
When you're out of the blue and into the black."
Neil Young

[billvon 3,116]

>But, what right does the Federal have to any info farmed from search engines?

It used to be that they had to show probable cause and get a warrant before they could use any such information against anyone. But lately anything is permissible in the war on terra, and thus those protections are being eroded. In an age where everything is available if you look hard enough, the fourth amendment is about the only protection we have left - and it's giving way under the assault of fearful people who would rather have security than freedom.

[nacmacfeegle 0]

"How long can Google hold out untill the Feds seek a court order for them to hand over everything in the name of national security? "

If I were the Google Honchos I'd seriously consider relocating the operation to somewhere with a less intrusive regime.

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He who receives an idea from me, receives instruction himself without lessening mine; as he who lights his taper at mine, receives light without darkening me. Thomas Jefferson

[bazelos 0]

Why don't they just go to a country that doesn't spy their own people?

He who makes a beast of himself gets rid of the pain of being a man.

[Shotgun 1]

If the government wants to know anything about me, amazon.com would probably be the best people to ask. They seem to know more about me than I know about myself. It's kinda creepy...

I know what you're saying, and it's something that concerns me... But I choose to be concerned rather than to be scared because being scared often leads to paranoia, which is not very helpful...

Oh, and I think a lot of people (including myself) now visit Aljazeera and other such websites, so I doubt that the government is placing too much emphasis on that sort of activity, but who knows...

(Hmm... Funny, I say I'm not paranoid, and then I start to type certain things but end up erasing them because I'm not so sure it's a good idea to post them over the Internet. )

[freethefly 6]

Concerned is a much better word than scared. I can see where visiting certian anti-american websites will eventually land a certian number of people in hotwater much like checking out books like Johnny Got His Gun was considered anti- American. What we read and view is being collated and the info will eventually fall into the hands of the pro-American zealots. I know for certian that the Feds do in fact have a file on me from past association with certian motorcycle organization. How many realize that they too might have a file with their name on it and that that info can and will be used against them should the government see a need to come down hard and certian sectors of the population? I no longer associate with certian groups, yet this does not mean that I now sit well with the Feds. I do still talk with certian people, sometimes by phone, sometimes by email and sometimes in person. Any encounter that can be recorded is recorded. I have no doubt. If the Feds get a foot through the door to open all files from companies such as Google then each and every person who use such tools are open to suspicion and evasive scrutiny by the very government that they support by means of tax dollars and other means. It is much like hiring a private detective to spy and gather damaging info on yourself. This is a new age McCarthy era and I can only see it getting worst as the current administration (as well as past and future) is hellbent on knowing everything about everyone in the name of national security. This may seem well with those who say"I did nothing wrong, I have nothing to worry about". Many during the McCarthy era said the same untill they were caught up in a snare that does not discriminate.
If you are not concerned, you should be.

"...And once you're gone, you can't come back
When you're out of the blue and into the black."
Neil Young

[IanHarrop 42]

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Why don't they just go to a country that doesn't spy their own people?

Can you name a country that doesn't spy on its own people? I'm not sure I can.

"Where troubles melt like lemon drops, away above the chimney tops, that's where you'll find me" Dorothy

[freethefly 6]

I believe the gathering of info to persecute the people was part of the reasons the settlers left England for the "new world". Only what they feared they brought with them.
John Kay and Jerry Edmonton wrote a song called Monster and it is so true of what the USA is about and should be listened to.

"...And once you're gone, you can't come back
When you're out of the blue and into the black."
Neil Young

[tbrown 26]

Can I expect Google thugs to kick my door in and whip me with my firewire untill I give in and tell them all that I know?

[happythoughts 0]

I'll save them the trouble. My interests are skydiving and porn.

From surveys that I have taken, I (alone) am supporting the entire porn industry.

[peacefuljeffrey 0]

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Yahoo! also gave up email information on a Chinese reporter
evetually got him a 10 year prison sentence for nothing more
than forwarding a government memo to foreigners.

For the sake of argument, what if they did that in order to expose the injustice that the Chinese will imprison a person for nothing more than forwarding a government memo to foreigners?

Quote

Google just has the more brilliant minds, the better business
philosophy, and, last but not least, more ethical/social attitudes
as compared to all the others. That's what made them the biggest
of all. I'm not surprised that Google is the one of them all fighting
the snooping and it is a very important fight in their philosophy.

Cheers, T

I heard on the radio that the reason Google refuses to give the info is that because of the algorithms that Google's searches use, users would be identifiable, whereas with Yahoo they would not be. So the info given by Yahoo would not be able to be tracked to anyone, but if Google gave up theirs, the info would be trackable to users.

Is this the "rest of the story"? Maybe. I dunno.

-

-Jeffrey
"With tha thoughts of a militant mind... Hard line, hard line after hard line!"

[peacefuljeffrey 0]

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I believe the gathering of info to persecute the people was part of the reasons the settlers left England for the "new world". Only what they feared they brought with them.
John Kay and Jerry Edmonton wrote a song called Monster and it is so true of what the USA is about and should be listened to.

Oh please... Your incessant implication that the U.S. is the only country doing things that deserve contempt is beyond absurd.

Why are you a one-note piano when it comes to this? Why always, "The USA is horrible, the USA is horrible," but no contempt for Cuba, Rwanda, Sudan, any number of arab states, any number of Eastern European states... ad nauseum?

The U.S.A. is not "about" abuse and sinister motives and slavery and blah blah blah as you characterize it. Our CONSTITUTION says what the U.S.A. is about, and that is about the noblest government document on the face of the earth. It's not anyone in particular's fault that somehow government bureaucracy, corruption and greed have managed to get a foothold. The responsibility belongs to THE PEOPLE to fight against them, and remove them.

Remember the admonitions of the Founders, who said that we have a responsibility to fight and disobey unjust laws, and to remove a tyrannical government from power if it oppresses the People.

Funny thing is, the same people who argue that we are under a dictatorship (the Left) argue against the ownership of the guns we may someday need to remove it from power.

-

-Jeffrey
"With tha thoughts of a militant mind... Hard line, hard line after hard line!"

[nacmacfeegle 0]

"Naughty Bondage Fairies Whip Dick Cheney's Buttocks".

Just for the sake of informed discussion I googled that.
Halliburton's firewall denied me access.
Its true, honest!

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He who receives an idea from me, receives instruction himself without lessening mine; as he who lights his taper at mine, receives light without darkening me. Thomas Jefferson

[Eiley 0]

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If the government wants to know anything about me, amazon.com would probably be the best people to ask. They seem to know more about me than I know about myself. It's kinda creepy...

Oh, God yes.

"Welcome Eiley, we have Recommendations for you! Would you like to add them to your cart?"

Yes. Yes I would. Every bloody one of them.

nothing to see here

[freethefly 6]

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Can I expect Google thugs to kick my door in and whip me with my firewire untill I give in and tell them all that I know?

Probably not, but you might get flown to some secret Egyptian torture palace because you searched for "Naughty Bondage Fairies Whip Dick Cheney's Buttocks".

[Remster 30]

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Halliburton's firewall denied me access.

The Man is keeping you down, brother!

Remster

[rehmwa 2]

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I'll save them the trouble. My interests are skydiving and porn.

A recent web survey shows that dropzone.com is the 7th most popular non-porn website on the worldwide web.

Thus placing it somewhere around the 8 millionth most popular website in the 'general' category.

...
Driving is a one dimensional activity - a monkey can do it - being proud of your driving abilities is like being proud of being able to put on pants

[Shotgun 1]

Quote

"Welcome Eiley, we have Recommendations for you! Would you like to add them to your cart?"

Yes. Yes I would. Every bloody one of them.

Yep, I'm the same way. But it's sort of nice to have advertising that is interesting rather than annoying... And I've gotten some good stuff that way, things that I might have never heard of...

I had an email from them this morning, asking me if I wanted to buy this book: How Animals Have Sex : A Guide to the Reproductive Habits of Creatures Great and Small... And actually I would like to buy it (they know me so well ), except that my reading time is maxed out with school books for the next four months. So I put it in the "Save for Later" list. Yep, I'm a sucker...

[Frenchy68 0]

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A recent web survey shows that dropzone.com is the 7th most popular non-porn website on the worldwide web.
Thus placing it somewhere around the 8 millionth most popular website in the 'general' category.

That's how I stumbled upon this website. Mispelled "Gropebone.com". Silly me.

"For once you have tasted Absinthe you will walk the earth with your eyes turned towards the gutter, for there you have been and there you will long to return."