Sometimes you have to point out the obvious. It’s a fact that websites out there are collecting data from Internet users and some collect more than Google. If people have serious issues with sites collecting their data and they are going to whine and complain about it, they shouldn’t be using the Internet.

nice try of a rationalization for something like “America love it or leave it” (don’t know if you’re old enough to rem that). this is a mindset not an argument.

Ashley wrote:

If people have real issues with privacy, their best solution is to simply avoid using the Internet because many, many sites out there are collecting their data.

whow, what a thoughtful statement!
you are working on the decomposition of my sympathies for this site.

Sometimes you have to point out the obvious. It’s a fact that websites out there are collecting data from Internet users and some collect more than Google. If people have serious issues with sites collecting their data and they are going to whine and complain about it, they shouldn’t be using the Internet.

So I still think it’s no big deal to me. Anyone who wants to communicate securely can (and should) do some research to understand the risks involved, and take steps to minimise that risk.

I agree with your point that tracking is pervasive and difficult to escape, but I think of it as an unavoidable part of using the Internet in its current form. I guess it’s a worthwhile compromise that I make for the convenience of having so much data at our fingertips. Obviously I’d prefer it wasn’t there, but then I like to look and see who’s been visiting my websites, what part of the world they’re from etc…

If people have real issues with privacy, their best solution is to simply avoid using the Internet because many, many sites out there are collecting their data.

whow, what a thoughtful statement!
you are working on the decomposition of my sympathies for this site.

They know almost every site you visit and what you do when you are there, what you click, where you go next, and what you do when you are there, too. I wouldn’t be surprised if they knew your login info (username/pass) for most sites you use.

How many sites are using Google Analytics? How about Adsense? What data are they collecting there? I bet they collect a lot more data than they give webmasters or advertisers access to.

I know for a fact that Yahoo can and does collect information of what links you are clicking, on a lot of blogs, and not just Yahoo ad links…everything. And they are selling this information.

It’s called MyBlogLog, and the tracking code is on this very page, so you are contributing to Yahoo’s data pool of personal information right this minute. Were you informed and asked to give your concent to this collection of your personal surfing habits? Nope.

I am sure Google is doing the same on every site that has the Analytics or Adsense code added to it. And that’s a lot of sites…and there is no little popup window on the sites that gives you the option to opt out and keep your behaviors private.

Unless you know how to stop the scripts from loading and block the cookies, they are collecting data on you without your conscent. And for most people, without their knowledge, too.

And AOL showed the world what is wrong with a search engine remembering what you search for and what kind of harm it can do, when they had that big security breach that released a chunk of that data to the public. Data that could be used, in some cases, to steal someone’s identity and cause them great harm.

Still think it’s no big deal or that you can avoid the tracking?