Being somewhat of a numpty as far as the 'intraweb' is concerned...
Would one of you awfully nice chaps or chapesses, explain to me if I'm going to bombarded with adverts from firms that sell guns and ammunition, as I seem to spend an inordinate amount of time googling different 'weapons' to check on size, length and shape etc.
I suppose I'm lucky, as at present I don't seem to get any 'pop-ups' apart from when I visit sites like photobucket....When ....Blow me down !....I seem to have won some sort of mobile phone every single time.
The odds of me being the 100,000th visitor each time I log on make me wonder why I still haven't won the jackpot on the lottery.
Confused of Wales. ;)
Asi understand it, Google have implemented mass data-sharing between their various group companies. So whereas at the moment, if you have an account with Gmail, Google, YouTube, etc., these are all separated, Google will now be consolidating that personal data about you into one massive database, revealing a more complete picture of you and your interests.
This will allow Google to better sell you on to various advertisers, etc.
Remember, when you're on the Tinterweb, if you aren't paying for the service, you are the product.
This of course is a massive intrusion to your privacy, your Article 7 right to a private life and your Article 8 right to data privacy.
As a result the EU have kicked off a bit at Google attacking them on the EU Data Protection Directive 1st Principle, 'Fair and lawful'.
Google have to be fair to you (tell you what data they collect and what they'll use it for). That also have to be lawful (a technical issue to do with notification of purpose for collection to various national privacy authorities).
In terms of their processing (collection and use) of personal data about you, ask yourself this...
Do i know what personal data about me Google collects?
Do i know what they do with it?
How do i get to see it if i want to (in the UK this is your Data Protection Act Section 7 right - right of access)?
How can i challenge or prevent its use, e.g. for direct marketing?
If you can't clearly answer these questions, Google are likely to be on shaky legal ground.
Not that they care i suspect, given their immense wealth and substantial legal team could basically tie up national regulators int he courts for years.
Welcome to the global village 'economic unit 0004223432505: Techno'.
You will comply.
You will like it.
You will learn to love Big Brother Google.
'Working in cities of stone, the shadows groan,
Thousands of people but you're all alone,
In your own little zone like a drone,
Working in a hive all your life, bowing down to the throne,
Your overlords made in your own image,
Anesthatised you in the global village,
Now you're finished, dependent, lost in a maze,
You're dazed as you stare at the glowing blaze,
Erased, your future pulses in a computer...'
;)
Thanks Luddite.
Sounds as tho' I had roughly understood it.
Well....At least I don't have any active 'accounts' with those 'companies' you mention.
Mind you...I wonder what the low life who's copied my 'normal' email addy looks at ! (Years ago.... because a friend had his PC hacked and all the addys in his book nicked.)
It's alright when you have to block Spams from 'yourself' isn't it ?
Cheers - Phil.