The following news scares me something wicked …

Google’s ambition to maximize the personal information it holds on users is so great that the search engine envisages a day when it can tell people what jobs to take and how they might spend their days off.

Eric Schmidt, Google’s chief executive, said gathering more personal data was a key way for Google to expand and the company believes that is the logical extension of its stated mission to organize the world’s information. Source: FT.com / Companies / Media & Internet - Google’s goal: to organize your daily life

I love how useful and ubiquitous Google search is. But the more I learn of the personal data they are gathering the more I get nervous. *Now* they are coming right out and telling us it’s their goal to get everything there is to know about us stuffed into their data hungry servers. The risk for misuse it obvious the means of misuse are infinite.

Further, even if Google has no intention - and even develops guarantees - they will never misuse the data, they will become ever more attractive targets for corruption, espionage, and government subpoena.

Imagine Google’s desire to be able to tell you what job you should have. Now imagine an Orwellian scene where social manipulation steps in and starts identifying persona traits and gathering up people “who possibly could be violent” or even more subtle, just tweaks the “your best job would be …” to suggest reclusive or dangerous pursuits.

Imagine Google wants to target OTC medicines and holistic health options, spa resort packages, and other ads to the individual. Not realize that same data could be used by health care providers to deny coverage or place you in a high risk category with higher premiums. To get more subtle, you might find you emergency room wait getting longer when the admitting system tricked Google into thinking it was you and now they know you could be a costly and time consuming case - aka poor ROI !

These are simplistic and obvious examples. The list could go on and on. Universities could filter applicants under the guise of targeted marketing. Pyramid schemes to target susceptible elders. Terrorists could identify recruits. The list goes on and on.

So, even if you disagree with everything I’ve said. Even if you think I’ve seen conspiracy theory too many times, answer just one question …

“Do you want Google to have that much of your personal information ?”

If not, what are you doing to prevent it from happening ? … Because it *is* happening …

Related tangests ...   Do you care what Google's been up to ? Well, Google cares what you are up to !   Using Google search for inspiration and decision making   Keyless security ... and humor

Posted in Google, Personal Information, Privacy, Security |

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