Comments on: What will Google's Chrome OS watch you do?

Google's announcement of the Chrome OS is big news, but what will the ramifications for privacy be? We take a look at Google's privacy track record on some of its other products and services.

[rogerpack2005]

google's bread and butter is adwords, I believe

[blusky08]

Okay, take this for what you will. There have been many rumours about the true intent of Google's unprecedented policies and technology for mining data on people. It does give one pause to at least consider the possibility that the accusations about Google's true founding and purpose have roots within the intelligence community. Here are two of many articles documenting this:

http://www.nowpublic.com/ex_agent_cia_seed_money_helped_launch_google
http://www.prisonplanet.com/articles/september2006/060906spyon.htm

[paulej]

Having my head buried in work all day, this was the first article I saw on this topic. But, why would an OS designed around a browser -- effectively making it nothing more than an Internet access device -- even need something like Google Desktop? Would there even be a "desktop"?

What I would expect is there would be a replacement of Google Desktop ("Cloudtop"?). That would then be used to search all of your cloud-based data repositories for whatever you're looking for. Wow, now that's interesting and scary at the same time.

[Josh.Lowensohn]

I think you're onto something there. I just can't imagine the Chrome OS not having a way to save some files locally. And if so, not including its product that lets you sort through them.

[lucasarruda]

Google Chrome asks if you want to share browsing data that is being gathered for helping browsing experience, so you don`t have to accept it if you don`t agree.
They also guarantee the data is only beign accessed by crawling mechanisms. Also, they really protect privacy as they do not share data with government. Brazilian law police tryied to get data from Orkut to watch criminals and criminal acts and Google denied to protect user privacy, only prividing after long law process to have a tool to search all orkut, again respecting user`s privacy.

As a consequence of data gathering, they provide very good service. I bet you use Google and like it, but you`re still complaining about their policies. Why don`t you use bing and maybe they access your PC throw ActiveX and install another MS app without even asking for confirmation. Now that`s a privacy breakng way to act...

I remember when everybody was really afraid of using Gmail and up untill the moment we never heard of a violation or any case of e-mail leaking, so I guess you should put a bit of trust on it and always use https (some e-mail clients do not even provide it, only in authentication!).

Cheers,
Lucas Arruda

[Ironwolfx]

As true as your facts may be, there are some Chinese democracy activists who aren't quite as sanguine about Google's 'benevolence'. They had a choice: freedom or 'market share', they chose $$$$$ over 'human rights'.

Google's motto of 'do no evil' is hollow joke.

Why is Google successful? Too many people ignorant of a very old truth: there is NO free lunch. Period.

[Hunnter2k3]

Considering this is Linux, and i HIGHLY doubt they will completely lock you out from using the core OS if you wanted to, wouldn't it be fairly trivial to monitor network activity and block it?

Personally i wouldn't care, especially if it still the same old targeted advertising i love.
If you read a previous post by me, i would rather have ads targeted at my interests than have them randomly throw up things i dislike or outright hate.

[FF2009]

This is exactly what GoogleOS will do...nothing but track it's users browsing habits and feed you with it's content.

No thanks Google. I like your Search engine and Gmail account, but that's as far as i will go with you.

[Random_Walk]

LOL! This reminds me of the big fat "NSA Key" brouhaha that Microsoft had to put up with in Windows NT, ME, and 2000...

See for yourself:
http://www.cnn.com/TECH/computing/9909/03/windows.nsa.02/

[kuraimauri]

I prefer to have my personal data and execute my applications on my desktop where I have control over them. so, I have to say: no thanks, big brother google.

[Josh.Lowensohn]

On the flip side, since you're not paying for a Windows License you may simply be able to roll your own OS on there after you buy a machine with it pre-installed.

[davep_f1]

Google is "The Evil", I hate it

[DrKevorkian]

I agree totally with you, Google is the real "Big Brother" and I do not use anything they offer. Also, Jason did not detail the new Google Phone that they intend to rollout where all of the conversations are transcribed and stored.

Yeah, everyone wants all their phone calls monitored and recorded. The same stupid people who were all over the government taping will be signing up for Google services without an care in the world.

Google is already very fat target for hackers, all these new services make them even more of a target since they store everything forever.

[DrKevorkian]

Whoops, I meant Josh instead of Jason.

[simonjoker]

http://www.homelandstupidity.us/2006/02/22/google-in-bed-with-us-intelligence/

[rgor]

The real issue is corporations and closed networks. How does Google convince a closed system that their web based applications can achieve the same level of ownership, customization, and accountability? You may be able to run a calculator online but running major applications will be limited to the desktop. The third issue is the web. If you don't have internet access, what happens to your work? Local applications will never go away. In fact, I would venture that Google will eventually HAVE to local self contained installs to compete in the corporate world. All it takes is a couple of internet leaks, attacks, or privacy issues to surface and the whole stack of cards will fall. The key factor here is how much of what you do should be done through google and to what extent do you trust them?
Casual usage is good, but business wants a head to roll when things don't go right.

[OldGrumpy]

If its OS is as frustrating to use as I found Google's browser Chrome to be, it won't be going anywhere; it will be dead on arrival.

[wieser100]

Google is going to fall flat on its face on this one. i doubt any computer makers are going to offer it installed on a new computer,so there goes most of the chances to get new users plus it will be useless for anyone who games because there wont be any games for it ,just like all the other linux distros.Plus who is going to fool around with a brand new operating system when we dont have any indication of how good it is and there are lots of other Linux distros that wont have Google tracking your every move.This cloud computing crap will just add more layers of stuff to go wrong,not only your computer but the net and someone elses machines that you don't have any control over!!What happens when net goes down.Construction work ers accidently tearing up lines anyone

[lavern]

This will be about as useful as google docs....what a gem that is

[Ironwolfx]

Not content with peeking over your shoulder, Google wants you sit on their lap. No thanks.

As to what will come of it, time will tell. But there are responses to Google's product offerings.

One example is SRWare Iron, basically a 'gutted' version of Chrome. They took the browser and ripped out ALL of the tracking elements. The result: a stable [so far...], fast, simple version of Chrome.

If Google wants to release an OS, that's their business. And if somebody wants to mod their product, so be it.

Open source is what it is, for good or ill.

[jjuujj]

Big Brother in sheep's clothing, I think..........

[joshdeboer]

Well said!

[DMBoricua]

Sure Google keeps track of the websites you visit, the private information you input on pages, the keys you type, when, where, what, why, how, but its for the benefit of Google to know what its users do to help them improve their software and such. I'm sure they would never use your private information against you or track you down for using their software excessively, just use Google products like any other. Its nothing bad.

[Dango517]

Bingo! M$'s contender has arrived.

If there is one company in computing that could possibly compete with M$ it's, Google. This doesn't surprise me at all. There is little need for the desktop as most of consumer computing is done online and within applications. Here in is the rub ............... based on Linux perhaps in time, from this jumping off point they will develop there own software. Watch as M$'s market share shrinks and shrinks. It is possible their monopoly is near an end and their dynasty maybe coming to a close.This stone maybe kill two birds in one throw shrink M$ and perhaps replace that terribly OS called Linux, both being beneficial for consumers.

[Lucky___D]

I'm annoyed by google's data collection. I downloaded chrome and since I'm stuck with this spyware that only spybot S&D seems to be able to detect but can't flush out. How much personal data is being collected and who has access to it ? It bothers me not being able to decide who I can share or not datas with and seriously makes me reconsider using any google products at all.

[FF2009]

Good luck getting rid of it. It's imposable! You need to reformat your hard drive.

[fidoogle]

Josh, I really like your thoughts. I think they are very enlightening. I started a conversation on a smaller set of possibilities than the ones you talk about. Please check them out at http://mytechneeds.wordpress.com

[uabassguy]

Personally, I have nothing to hide, so I could care less about privacy. In any event, it's linux, things can be blocked from a root level if one was so inclined. My opinion may be biased, though. Because when it comes to the bigger monster, M$ has and will always take the cake, and eat it too. If Google can bring open source to a larger community, I welcome it.

[blusky08]

No offense intended, but the relinquishing of privacy based on the "nothing to hide" argument is counter to everything that the USA stands for. Read the founding fathers--and not just the toned down, sanitized version about them. And let's not forget this lesson from world history: Whether or not you have nothing to hide or whether or not you are defined as a criminal all depends on who is making the rules and setting the definitions.

[zyxxy]

You have nothing to hide today, but some of what you are doing today may indicate criminal intent twenty years from now. Rules and rulers change. As blusky08 says, read John Adams, read Thomas Jefferson. Each would have been charged with treason if the colonies had lost the revolution. Each would have hung. Their views were radical in 1775 and their views are still radical today. Thomas Jefferson felt that revolution was required on a periodic basis in order to refresh The Republic.