Today on NPR's "Day to Day," I speak with host Madeleine Brand and guest Dan Gillmor about a very public flap over private data between Google and CNET News.com.
It all goes back to a July, 2005 CNET story. The volume of personal data available on the web through Google and other search tools has long been a cause for concern among privacy advocates. But Google also gathers data about its users through its email service, map apps, and shopping search tools (as do its competitors). The CNET story asked what the consequences might be if Google user info fell into the hands of government investigators, ill-wishing hackers — even a Google employee violating company privacy practices.
To illustrate the concern, reporter Elinor Mills lead her story with an anecdote revealing personal data about Google CEO Eric Schmidt — data she obtained from Google searches — including the value of his Google shares, where he lives, his wife's name, and the fact that he's been to Burning Man. In response, CNET says Google retaliated by declaring it will not speak to CNET reporters until August 2006.
Link to NPR "Day to Day" report on l'affaire Google/CNET; archived audio (Real/Win streams) online after 12pm PT.
