Retail totem (60/366)

Kinect ghost (59/366)

Shapes (58/366)

Lines (57/366)

Ghost of a pub #1 (56/366)

Searching for privacy – to Track or not

 

© Sodahead

One of the major search companies (the most popular one, you may guess from the image above) is to introduce a “Do Not Track” policy to streamline consumer privacy on the Web, and plans to support the initiative in its Chrome Web browser and Android mobile OS. This will tell websites not to track them across the web, particularly referring to the use of ‘cookie’ files left on the users’ machine. This is important to the search giants as the online ad market stands to lose money from not being able to track users and target them with online ads. Do you find targeted ads annoying or useful? have you EVER clicked on an ad link displayed using your online email account or online document tool? No, me neither but someone must be hence the companies dominion and riches.  According to the E-Week security website:

Cookies will not be used to build targeted ads, or those tailored to users based on users’ past surfing and other online behavior. Do Not Track supporters may not use that cookie-tracking data to divine information about users’ employment, credit, health treatment or insurance eligibility, or for sensitive data about children.

That infers that unless you opt out (the process is not automatic, you have to select Do Not Track), all this information IS used by targeted marketeers. This is particularly a concern in schools that may use online email, video tube and docs tools. We wouldn’t accept ads for pizza or burgers in our classrooms, why would as part of our search results? No, the ads aren’t as crass as this example but we shouldn’t have to put up with them at all for the sake of a so-called ‘personalized’ (sic) surfing experience. Do Not Track is not so easy to find for Chrome browser either – you have to find it in the Chrome Web Store (Keep My Opt-Outs). Where is the solution for Android phones? This should be a priority as many under 16s use Android-based smartphones. Don’t believe the hype that some search companies ‘Do No Evil’, they are merely there to make money and occasionally get caught out. See the Wall Street Journal:

Google’s privacy practices are under intense scrutiny. Last year, as part of a far-reaching legal settlement with the U.S. Federal Trade Commission the company pledged not to “misrepresent” its privacy practices to consumers. The fine for violating the agreement is $16,000 per violation, per day. The FTC declined to comment on the findings.

This report based on unauthorised tracking of (rival) Apple’s Safari browser across the web on mobile as well as standard web browsing. Yes, fined $16k per violation.

Sources:

http://www.eweek.com/c/a/Search-Engines/Congressmen-Query-Google-Over-Apple-Safari-Cookie-Tracking-393575/

http://www.engadget.com/2012/02/24/google-tests-the-do-not-track-waters-with-a-chrome-extension/

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970204880404577225380456599176.html

http://www.eweek.com/c/a/Security/Google-Chrome-to-Support-Do-Not-Track-Privacy-Policy-875431/

 

Best before (55/366)

Glow (54/366)

Mid week pint (53/366)

Roots (52/366)