The Extremist
Sunday, November 12, 2006
Eventually, Big Brother sees all
So I upgraded to Blogger Beta this morning (not without much objection from my lightning quick dial-up connection). In the conversion procedure there is mention of an updated Google Terms of Service. For the first time in a long while I actually decided to read one of these and found this:
I'm not really a great fan of conspiracy theories, but any statement like this one is enough to get any thinking person worried. From my (presumably naive) perception of the world I'd say that this clause isn't that big a deal. It just releases Google to give the proper authoroties the information they may need to prosecute criminals or prevent crimes. But what if those proper authorities have agendas other than the great ideals of justice and righteousness.
Those authorities can then use a warrant or subpoena to force Google to give up information about someone for their own purposes.
And the way things are going, Google will eventually know everything about you. They'll have your mail (and chats), your personal thoughts, your schedule (besides your personal particulars if you were actually truthful when you first acquired your Google account). They might even have some of your financial information (though Big Brother could presumably get that from a proper institution like the revenue service) if you used Google Spreadsheets for your budget.
Then they might also have your notebook and some web pages you may have made (though that's not so bad since web pages are intended to be published anyway).
Oh well, I'll just use Googles stuff while the good times roll :-)
You agree that Google may access or disclose your personal information, including the content of your communications, if Google is required to do so in order to comply with any valid legal process or governmental request (such as a search warrant, subpoena, statute, or court order), or as otherwise provided in these Terms of Service and the general Google Privacy Policy. Personal information collected by Google may be stored and processed in the United States or any other country in which Google Inc. or its agents maintain facilities. By using the Service, you consent to any such transfer of information outside of your country.
I'm not really a great fan of conspiracy theories, but any statement like this one is enough to get any thinking person worried. From my (presumably naive) perception of the world I'd say that this clause isn't that big a deal. It just releases Google to give the proper authoroties the information they may need to prosecute criminals or prevent crimes. But what if those proper authorities have agendas other than the great ideals of justice and righteousness.
Those authorities can then use a warrant or subpoena to force Google to give up information about someone for their own purposes.
And the way things are going, Google will eventually know everything about you. They'll have your mail (and chats), your personal thoughts, your schedule (besides your personal particulars if you were actually truthful when you first acquired your Google account). They might even have some of your financial information (though Big Brother could presumably get that from a proper institution like the revenue service) if you used Google Spreadsheets for your budget.
Then they might also have your notebook and some web pages you may have made (though that's not so bad since web pages are intended to be published anyway).
Oh well, I'll just use Googles stuff while the good times roll :-)
Labels: Orwellian, The Establishment
