Comments on: Google Buys Online Ads In Pushback Over Privacy

By: Tar Heel In Texas

Tar Heel In Texas — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 16:59:58 +0000

It’s not really *more* data. It’s a more accurate, or more complete, or more whatever use of that data. Google has always had this information about its users, but the data was split up into pieces that were only connected to specific Google services like YouTube and Docs. Separated by somewhat, more-or-less walled gardens. Now they’re putting the data together to form a more complete picture. It’s like before, your data was in jigsaw puzzle pieces, and maybe they could put some of them together, three or four here, five or six there. Now they can put all your jigsaw puzzle pieces together and see the whole image. Or, as much of the image as you’ve given them puzzle pieces for in the first place.

And yes, there is some cause for concern about this. But how much concern? Google wants us to think not much at all. Microsoft and others want us to think quite a bit. But the truth is…?

By: Jeff Roberts

Jeff Roberts — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 19:46:54 +0000

Geoff, I don’t want to split hairs but I think the new ability to aggregate data can indeed be construed as “more data.” The value of combining information can’t be summarized 1 + 1 = 2.

By: geoff

geoff — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 19:14:47 +0000

“But the new privacy policy will also result in Google obtaining more data.”
that’s actually false. google has already explained how it’s not obtaining more data. it’s the same data over all their sites and they are rolling it into one place. sheesh. how hard is it to figure out?