Google Copies Your Hard Drive - Government Smiles in Anticipation

From http://www.eff.org/news/archives/2006_02.php#004400

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Google Copies Your Hard Drive - Government Smiles in Anticipation

Consumers Should Not Use New Google Desktop

San Francisco - Google today announced a new "feature" of its Google Desktop software that greatly increases the risk to consumer privacy. If a consumer chooses to use it, the new "Search Across Computers" feature will store copies of the user's Word documents, PDFs, spreadsheets and other text-based documents on Google's own servers, to enable searching from any one of the user's computers. EFF urges consumers not to use this feature, because it will make their personal data more vulnerable to subpoenas from the government and possibly private litigants, while providing a convenient one-stop-shop for hackers who've obtained a user's Google password.

"Coming on the heels of serious consumer concern about government snooping into Google's search logs, it's shocking that Google expects its users to now trust it with the contents of their personal computers," said EFF Staff Attorney Kevin Bankston. "If you use the Search Across Computers feature and don't configure Google Desktop very carefully—and most people won't—Google will have copies of your tax returns, love letters, business records, financial and medical files, and whatever other text-based documents the Desktop software can index. The government could then demand these personal files with only a subpoena rather than the search warrant it would need to seize the same things from your home or business, and in many cases you wouldn't even be notified in time to challenge it. Other litigants—your spouse, your business partners or rivals, whoever—could also try to cut out the middleman (you) and subpoena Google for your files."

The privacy problem arises because the Electronic Communication Privacy Act of 1986, or ECPA, gives only limited privacy protection to emails and other files that are stored with online service providers—much less privacy than the legal protections for the same information when it's on your computer at home. And even that lower level of legal protection could disappear if Google uses your data for marketing purposes. Google says it is not yet scanning the files it copies from your hard drive in order to serve targeted advertising, but it hasn't ruled out the possibility, and Google's current privacy policy appears to allow it.

"This Google product highlights a key privacy problem in the digital age," said Cindy Cohn, EFF's Legal Director. "Many Internet innovations involve storing personal files on a service provider's computer, but under outdated laws, consumers who want to use these new technologies have to surrender their privacy rights. If Google wants consumers to trust it to store copies of personal computer files, emails, search histories and chat logs, and still 'not be evil,' it should stand with EFF and demand that Congress update the privacy laws to better reflect life in the wired world."

For more on Google's data collection:
http://news.com.com/FAQ+When+Google+is+not+your+friend/2100-1025_3-6034666.html?tag=nl http://www.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2006/01/21/google_subpoena_roils_the_web http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/chronicle/archive/2006/01/20/EDGEPGPHA61.DTL http://news.com.com/%20Bill+would+force+Web+sites+to+delete+personal+info/2100-1028_3-6036951.html

I think with their Gmail accounts, you pretty much give them the right to your email.

Thanks, Paul, it's good to know that. I have Gmail but don't really care if the government has access to it. I can't imagine any circumstances in which they would benefit from access to my personal email. However, if I were involved in questionable or dodgy activities, that would be different.

"If you use the Search Across Computers feature and don't configure Google Desktop very carefully—and most people won't—Google will have copies of your tax returns, love letters, business records, financial and medical files, and whatever other text-based documents the Desktop software can index.

It's important to note that it's IF you configure 'search across computers', and it's off by default when you install.

I didn't do that google desktop thing on our computer.  The thought just freaked me out a bit.

I have a gmail account though, it's almost all UK-Yankee stuff.  So if the government wants to read a lot of goofy pms and report to mods, then they're welcome to it.   

hmm..I use the gmail one for the mermaid ebay auction so if they want to track who purchased sewing patterns and costume tips...have fun!

I didn't do that google desktop thing on our computer.  The thought just freaked me out a bit.

Ditto. It really freaks me out that Google knows where I am...i.e., If I type in "Suitcases" it will come up with "Suitcases in Las Vegas" or "Suitcases in UK" without me ever mentionong my location. I know it is tracking my ISP, but it still makes me a bit nervous.

I never got the toolbar for the same reason. I don't use my gmail account either.

If you ever do a Google maps search, Google starts displaying your search results specific to the town you entered.

I use 3 different spyware removal programs though. Spyware is evil.

If you need recommendations, try Spybot Search & Destroy, and Ad-Aware SE Personal. You'll be shocked at how much spyware it will find and clean up.

It's important to note that it's IF you configure 'search across computers', and it's off by default when you install.

Sorry, I didn't mean to scare everyone off Google altogether.  It is only if you enable certain features.   It's also interesting to note that Google is fighting against government rulings about handing over search logs to the NSA without warrants, whereas some other companies have just complied without a murmur.

When it comes to e-mail, I think a lot of people these days often expect a degree of privacy which has never existed and is simply not inherent within the system.  If I send an unencrypted e-mail through dozens of links to reach its destination, I expect that anyone on route will be able to read it -- Kind of like sending a postcard through the mail rather than a letter in a sealed envelope.   Maybe it depends upon one's background and those who do not remember how e-mail was handled 20 years ago expect something different.

As for much of the present-day software, however, personally I think it has become far too clever for its own good in many ways.  A feature which facilitates the transfer of files without the user even being aware of such is something we could do without.  Ditto for many of the auto-EXE installers and similar.  So many of the virus, spyware, etc. problems around today could be alleviated if the software was written without all the extra junk that many people do not even need, or at least if it came with those options disabled by default.