Google Buzz and Privacy concerns

[*LTD*]

Question:

Does turning off Google Buzz where it says "turn off Buzz" (near the bottom of the Gmail page) turn the service off completely and block all contacts/hide followers, etc., that is, render everything as it was before Google Buzz? Or is there something else I have to do as well?

I find Google's implementation of this service pretty infuriating, and I'm not the only one:

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/13/technology/internet/13google.html?hpw

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/02/12/AR2010021201490.html

I think Gruber nailed it today:

Google Buzz a Privacy Disaster
Seems like a terrible mistake to glom a public broadcasting feature onto a private email system.

★
Daring Fireball 10-02-13 12:33 AM John Gruber http://daringfireball.net/

 

[tkermit]

Don't worry, Google has implemented an easy way to opt out of their services completely.

I agree with your assessment of the situation, by the way...This may help (or not).

 

[rhett7660]

Don't worry, Google has implemented an easy way to opt out of their services completely.

I agree with your assessment of the situation, by the way...This may help (or not).

That was great.... wooohhhhoo what do you mean I have to get into your van???? LOL

 

[miles01110]

Buzz is no better or worse than facebook or any other social networking system.

 

[anjinha]

Buzz is no better or worse than facebook or any other social networking system.

Have you used it or do you use any other social networking systems?

 

[macfan881]

This whole privacy issue thing with buzz really started my second guessing on looking forward to Chrome OS but with the stuff that has happened I probably wont touch Chrome Os with a 10ft pole

 

[iWoz]

Google Buzz? What the heck is that? I guess I need to do some googling!!

 

[niuniu]

haven't even heard of it

 

[*LTD*]

Thanks for the tips, folks!

This Google Buzz is a complete nuisance (at least the way Google implemented it, which is more than a little disturbing.)

 

[djellison]

This Google Buzz is a complete nuisance

Is it? Really? Because I'm not finding it any sort of nuisance at all...

BECAUSE I'M NOT USING IT.

Given that your opinion of Google is to place them alongside Hitler and Satan, quite why you would have any interest in any of their products, I don't know.

 

[tkermit]

Is it? Really? Because I'm not finding it any sort of nuisance at all...

BECAUSE I'M NOT USING IT.

Given that your opinion of Google is to place them alongside Hitler and Satan, quite why you would have any interest in any of their products, I don't know.

They screwed up with the launch of Buzz - simple as that. I don't know why you are trying to discredit the OP's opinion here. The problem is exactly how Google pushed this product on Gmail users and enabled certain privacy breaching features by default.

 

[djellison]

The OP copy and pastes any negative IT story about Microsoft, Google or any other firm out there. He clearly has a massive problem with google.

Thus - it would only be logical to assume he wouldn't date use any google services based on his persistent, consistent and exhaustive tirade against google.

So the problem I have is... why does he give a damn about Buzz. Why's it even entered his life at all?

 

[anjinha]

The OP copy and pastes any negative IT story about Microsoft, Google or any other firm out there. He clearly has a massive problem with google.

Thus - it would only be logical to assume he wouldn't date use any google services based on his persistent, consistent and exhaustive tirade against google.

So the problem I have is... why does he give a damn about Buzz. Why's it even entered his life at all?

If he uses Gmail he had Buzz enabled automatically.

 

[*LTD*]

The OP copy and pastes any negative IT story about Microsoft, Google or any other firm out there. He clearly has a massive problem with google.

Thus - it would only be logical to assume he wouldn't date use any google services based on his persistent, consistent and exhaustive tirade against google.

So the problem I have is... why does he give a damn about Buzz. Why's it even entered his life at all?

I have a Gmail account. Plenty of people have them. Ergo, Buzz entered my life. Which is why I asked for a way to turn it off completely, after reading that simply clicking "turn off Buzz" near the bottom of the Gmail page wasn't enough.

I'm wondering, is the egg on your face scrambled or over-easy?

 

[djellison]

I have a Gmail account.

How do you live with yourself? Why would you do something against your religion?

 

[*LTD*]

How do you live with yourself? Why would you do something against your religion?

It's only e-mail.

 

[Eidorian]

Good lord, I just wanted e-mail.

 

[rhett7660]

Good lord, I just wanted e-mail.

You and me both.

 

[KnightWRX]

Who cares how many people Google shared my Buzz with automatically from my contacts ? Those people are never getting an update from me anyhow since I don't use social networking services.

By definition, social networking services are invasions of privacy.

 

[tkermit]

Who cares how many people Google shared my Buzz with automatically from my contacts ? Those people are never getting an update from me anyhow since I don't use social networking services.

By definition, social networking services are invasions of privacy.

So what? That makes it all the same? Invasion of privacy is not a digital YES/NO indicator, instead there are many different levels of that. People let others invade their privacy all the time in the real world. The trick is, that you should remain in control and be able to very specifically decide how much of your private data you're willing to expose at what time to whom.

 

[KnightWRX]

So what? That makes it all the same? Invasion of privacy is not a digital YES/NO indicator, instead there are many different levels of that. People let others invade their privacy all the time in the real world. The trick is, that you should remain in control and be able to very specifically decide how much of your private data you're willing to expose at what time to whom.

You are. Before you use the a social networking service for the first time and post up any info on there, I'd make damn sure to check the list of people that would receive such info.

There is no privacy at all on social networking services, it's rather funny that people expect some.

 

[tkermit]

You are [in control]. Before you use the a social networking service for the first time and post up any info on there, I'd make damn sure to check the list of people that would receive such info.

Once again: The problem is how Google pushed this on (Gmail) users and then enabled privacy breaching features by default (e.g. automatically sharing your email contacts).That's pretty much the definition of not being in control.

There is no privacy at all on social networking services, it's rather funny that people expect some.

It is certainly possible to implement social networking services that respect your privacy.

 

[KnightWRX]

Once again: The problem is how Google pushed this on (Gmail) users and then enabled privacy breaching features by default (e.g. automatically sharing your email contacts).That's pretty much the definition of not being in control.

Read the article again. They did not share your email contacts, they shared your Buzz updates to your frequent chat contacts. You are in control. I looked at buzz, saw it's just another twitter/facebook POS, a few of my contacts were "subscribed" by default to the empty info that was there. I clicked disable.

None of my info was shared to anyone.

It is certainly possible to implement social networking services that respect your privacy.

Exhibing your life on the Internet, even if there are security measures is very counter to privacy. Heck, just telling one of your friends about something in your life just means you've breached your own privacy. If you don't want people to know what you do, don't tell them, no matter the medium.

 

[tkermit]

Read the article again. They did not share your email contacts, they shared your Buzz updates to your frequent chat contacts. You are in control. I looked at buzz, saw it's just another twitter/facebook POS, a few of my contacts were "subscribed" by default to the empty info that was there. I clicked disable.

None of my info was shared to anyone.

I bet you know a little more about how social networking sites work than most people and could instantly recognize it as such, which is why you clicked 'disable' . The ordinary person might not, especially if something like this pops up next to their email-inbox.

unless you tinker with Buzz's settings, a partial list of your most-emailed Gmail contacts might be automatically made public[…]Yes, that's right: without you ever touching Google Buzz's privacy settings, the entire world may know who you correspond with (yes, including that secret lover of yours and that secret leaker at the White House).

Exhibing your life on the Internet, even if there are security measures is very counter to privacy. Heck, just telling one of your friends about something in your life just means you've breached your own privacy. If you don't want people to know what you do, don't tell them, no matter the medium.

Then we disagree about the definition of 'privacy'.
I would go with the one posted on Wikipedia: 'Privacy is the ability of an individual or group to seclude themselves or information about themselves and thereby reveal themselves selectively'.

Privacy differs from anonymity.

 

[KnightWRX]

Then we disagree about the definition of 'privacy'.
I would go with the one posted on Wikipedia: 'Privacy is the ability of an individual or group to seclude themselves or information about themselves and thereby reveal themselves selectively'.

Privacy differs from anonymity.

As soon as you give anyone any information about yourself, you've just lost the ability to seclude that information selectively. Why ? Because even your closest friends and family can and do open their big mouths.

You can't have any expectation of privacy once you have told anything to anyone. At all.