Comments on: New Google Beta App?

By: Steve Holcombe

Steve Holcombe — Mon, 20 Nov 2006 12:52:19 +0000

Pardalis, Inc. has patented methods for the kind of data ownership that this string of conversation relates to, and has developed a hosted webservice for information producers to control (or license) their data even after access has been shared with another.

I would welcome comments or questions. More information is at http://www.pardalis.com. My direct e-mail is steve@pardalis.com. Please reference ‘Data Ownership’.

By: fluxam

fluxam — Fri, 13 Oct 2006 16:43:18 +0000

The extension for Googlefox (er, Firefox; works in Yahoofox/Flock, also), available at customizegoogle.com, offers two added privacy options in the “Privacy” tab.

By: PAC

PAC — Fri, 13 Oct 2006 15:02:43 +0000

This is, as others have stated, an awesome idea, and one that is so powerful and unique that it fits right in with the other powerful tools that Google has put forth. May I add that “GDP” should also tell the user the effect of cutting short the data that Google keeps about the user on the services Google provides with that data.

I’m relying more and more on Google–Google Calendar, Gmail, Google Notifier… I’m anxious to try out Writely and Google Spreadsheets. But I do worry about Google having all of that information about me.

A Google motto is “Don’t be evil.” I think the GDP would be a way to assure their customers that they are doing the right thing with our data.

By: Joseph

Joseph — Fri, 13 Oct 2006 13:48:23 +0000

I’m in full agreement as well, and this is something that I actually don’t worry that much about. I just know I should. The one thing that would really get me to buy in fully to the Google plan would be control. The second best thing would be knowledge. Even that is lacking right now. I don’t even know what Google knows about me. I know that theoretically they could know a lot, but if I saw it sitting somewhere I’d probably freak out a bit. So you know that will never happen that they show you what they know about you. They don’t want to scare people. But if they could show us *and* allow us to control it at least a little bit, then they would be in a much better position.

Great article, and great idea, Gene.

By: Tim

Tim — Thu, 12 Oct 2006 20:42:35 +0000

Hi Gene, you won’t get any arguments from me on this one. I definitely agree with you.

Although I think it is unlikely, as personal data is the raw material or capital that users surrender to Google in return for its (excellent) free services. Google will want to retain its ability to maximise the use it can make from the data that passes through its services.

Let’s hope I am wrong.

By: Gene

Gene — Thu, 12 Oct 2006 16:28:20 +0000

Tim, thanks for the link. The more I think about it, the more I believe this idea is something Google really should do. Concerns over data privacy & control are just going to get worse as more people move to these hosted services. What better way for GOOG to differentiate themselves, and show some real corporate responsibility at the same time. GDP would put some teeth into that slogan, “don’t be evil”, don’t you think?

By: Jay

Jay — Thu, 12 Oct 2006 12:13:30 +0000

Awesome idea

By: Michael Houghton

Michael Houghton — Thu, 12 Oct 2006 11:10:03 +0000

You could make the case that this is the most efficient way that Google could comply with EU Data Protection law, too - they’re bound by it for at least some of their consumers.

By: Marcel van der Boom

Marcel van der Boom — Thu, 12 Oct 2006 11:07:47 +0000

Not just google. Any organisation i give my information and permission to “store for efficiency purposes” should offer me control of that information and guarantee that if I retract that permission it gets deleted. If control is too much to ask, at least disclosure of what is kept is required. Perhaps google’s role in this can be to develop an application / API offering others the use of it.