Mainstream media Google alert
p2p news / p2pnet: An EFF warning, alerting people to the danger of Google’s latest wonder, Desktop 3, has been universally picked up by the mainstream media.
Definitely do NOT use the Search Across Computers feature, declares the EFF (Electronic Frontier Foundation), echoing other similar warnings and reprising the 2004 launch of the first Desktop application.
Then, Copernic ceo David Burns likened Desktop Search “privacy disaster” just waiting to happen.
Now, “The Electronic Frontier Foundation warned consumers that the government or litigious rivals could subpoena the search engine for the information stored on the Google servers before it is deleted, which Google said is within 30 days,” says CNET News. And its report was only one of the dozens of identical stories being run by the world press corps.
“he threat is underscored by the recent Justice Department request to Google, Microsoft, Yahoo and America Online for random Web search records,” it said. “Google was the only one of the companies to deny the request and challenge it in court.”
Google was indeed the only one to challenge the Cheney / Bush administration’s demands. It, “clearly was concerned about public reaction,” said a Mercury News report at the time.
Let’s hope Google doesn’t introduce Desktop 3 to China. There, Google’s efforts to make using the search engine a, “great experience for our users” includes actively helping the government censor the Net.
Also See:
EFF warning – Google Desktop 3 danger alert!, February 10, 2006
2004 launch – Google Desktop Search: Spyware?, October 15, 2004
CNET News – Google Desktop 3 criticized, February 10, 2006
public reaction – Google rejects Bush demand, January 20, 2006
great experience – Google China protests, January 30, 2005
