Comments on: Lethem and EFF on why Google Book Search needs privacy guarantees http://boingboing.net/2009/08/12/lethem-and-eff-on-wh.html Brain candy for Happy Mutants Wed, 22 May 2013 16:20:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4.1 By: Piers W http://boingboing.net/2009/08/12/lethem-and-eff-on-wh.html#comment-566841 Piers W Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-566841 #10 nosehat I thought it could be easily done via ARP. For the reason you point out, it can't. http://www.wilderssecurity.com/showthread.php?t=240838 #10 nosehat

I thought it could be easily done via ARP. For the reason you point out, it can’t.

http://www.wilderssecurity.com/showthread.php?t=240838

]]> By: Felix Mitchell http://boingboing.net/2009/08/12/lethem-and-eff-on-wh.html#comment-565328 Felix Mitchell Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-565328 How is knowing how long I spend on each page useful information? Time spent with a page open doesn't equate to time spent reading. You could be referencing the page while writing, or just going away to eat or use the toilet. This page has been open in my browser for like 7 hours because I left it on overnight. It means nowt. How is knowing how long I spend on each page useful information?

Time spent with a page open doesn’t equate to time spent reading. You could be referencing the page while writing, or just going away to eat or use the toilet. This page has been open in my browser for like 7 hours because I left it on overnight. It means nowt.

]]> By: Cicada http://boingboing.net/2009/08/12/lethem-and-eff-on-wh.html#comment-565342 Cicada Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-565342 Alright, before throwing a reflex panic-- what's the worst that could happen here? <br>The notion of warrantless police searches is an esthetic irritation, true, but since reading published information isn't illegal, exactly what would the police _do_ with the info that you lingered on page 298 of "War and Peace" for longer than average or breezed through the first half of "Return of the King"? Alright, before throwing a reflex panic– what’s the worst that could happen here?
The notion of warrantless police searches is an esthetic irritation, true, but since reading published information isn’t illegal, exactly what would the police _do_ with the info that you lingered on page 298 of “War and Peace” for longer than average or breezed through the first half of “Return of the King”?

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2009/08/12/lethem-and-eff-on-wh.html#comment-565102 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-565102 Clear all cookies after each session? Yes, the IP would still be available to google so maybe renew the connection via the router? Clear all cookies after each session? Yes, the IP would still be available to google so maybe renew the connection via the router?

]]> By: straponego http://boingboing.net/2009/08/12/lethem-and-eff-on-wh.html#comment-565875 straponego Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-565875 I'd add that the Kindle would seem to present risks at least as serious. They can know who paid for the device, which parts of the text have been read/bookmarked, and for newspapers/periodicals, which articles have been read. Do they save or transmit this information? Difficult to say, as it goes through their private 3G network. All we know is that Amazon has proven it cannot be trusted, and that you have no rights to any of the bits stored on the Kindle. There are currently no technical limitations on what they can do with your data, and until they change their terms of service, no legal protections either. I’d add that the Kindle would seem to present risks at least as serious. They can know who paid for the device, which parts of the text have been read/bookmarked, and for newspapers/periodicals, which articles have been read. Do they save or transmit this information? Difficult to say, as it goes through their private 3G network. All we know is that Amazon has proven it cannot be trusted, and that you have no rights to any of the bits stored on the Kindle. There are currently no technical limitations on what they can do with your data, and until they change their terms of service, no legal protections either.

]]> By: nosehat http://boingboing.net/2009/08/12/lethem-and-eff-on-wh.html#comment-566908 nosehat Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-566908 #13 Piers Thanks for the reply. #13 Piers

Thanks for the reply.

]]> By: Ralf555 http://boingboing.net/2009/08/12/lethem-and-eff-on-wh.html#comment-565377 Ralf555 Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-565377 It's true that Google should make some legal arrangements regarding books privacy before launching this project. Here is more about <a href="http://www.arzinger.ua/index.php?page=pract&id=21">copyright Ukraine</a> It’s true that Google should make some legal arrangements regarding books privacy before launching this project. Here is more about copyright Ukraine

]]> By: Felix Mitchell http://boingboing.net/2009/08/12/lethem-and-eff-on-wh.html#comment-565381 Felix Mitchell Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-565381 Cicada: Well, if the book you're reading is Lenin's <i>The State and the Revolution</i> and there is a sudden return to McCarthyism then you'd probably like to keep that private. But I still don't see how that's different to reading a website about Lenin, which the EFF believes. Cicada:

Well, if the book you’re reading is Lenin’s The State and the Revolution and there is a sudden return to McCarthyism then you’d probably like to keep that private.

But I still don’t see how that’s different to reading a website about Lenin, which the EFF believes.

]]> By: nosehat http://boingboing.net/2009/08/12/lethem-and-eff-on-wh.html#comment-565673 nosehat Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-565673 @ Piers W #2: Your MAC address is available to your router, and your router's mac address is available to your ISP (but they already know who you are anyway). Can you provide a source for your claim that Google, or anyone else who wants it, can get your MAC address? @ Piers W #2: Your MAC address is available to your router, and your router’s mac address is available to your ISP (but they already know who you are anyway).

Can you provide a source for your claim that Google, or anyone else who wants it, can get your MAC address?

]]> By: Piers W http://boingboing.net/2009/08/12/lethem-and-eff-on-wh.html#comment-565166 Piers W Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-565166 Don't forget Flash cookies (not so easy to delete, and contain a lot more information). Your MAC address is also available to Google or anyone else who wants it. Don’t forget Flash cookies (not so easy to delete, and contain a lot more information). Your MAC address is also available to Google or anyone else who wants it.

]]> By: Felix Mitchell http://boingboing.net/2009/08/12/lethem-and-eff-on-wh.html#comment-565168 Felix Mitchell Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-565168 So why is book browsing history more sensitive than web browsing history? The only reason given is that when Jonathan Lethem read books as a kid he enjoyed privacy which gave him an intimacy with reading. But protecting the reading habits of kids isn't mentioned anywhere else. What kind of content is in books that isn't on websites? The web has novels, instruction manuals, political manifestos... everything. Really I can see more reasons for internet use to be more private than reading habits. And Daphne Keller's point that privacy concerns shouldn't go in a copyright settlement rings true. I can understand why Cory et al. would want to get assurances over privacy <i>before</i> the books are handed over to Google, but is this the best way to do it? So why is book browsing history more sensitive than web browsing history?

The only reason given is that when Jonathan Lethem read books as a kid he enjoyed privacy which gave him an intimacy with reading. But protecting the reading habits of kids isn’t mentioned anywhere else.

What kind of content is in books that isn’t on websites? The web has novels, instruction manuals, political manifestos… everything. Really I can see more reasons for internet use to be more private than reading habits.

And Daphne Keller’s point that privacy concerns shouldn’t go in a copyright settlement rings true. I can understand why Cory et al. would want to get assurances over privacy before the books are handed over to Google, but is this the best way to do it?

]]> By: Ito Kagehisa http://boingboing.net/2009/08/12/lethem-and-eff-on-wh.html#comment-565698 Ito Kagehisa Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-565698 I changed my MAC to fe:ed:de:ad:be:ef so people will think I'm Peter Shipley. I think I just tripped some sort of limit with that one... better sign off for the night. Bye all! I changed my MAC to fe:ed:de:ad:be:ef so people will think I’m Peter Shipley.

I think I just tripped some sort of limit with that one… better sign off for the night.

Bye all!

]]> By: nosehat http://boingboing.net/2009/08/12/lethem-and-eff-on-wh.html#comment-565220 nosehat Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-565220 There are laws already on the books to protect the privacy of library patrons in this regard. For example, Michigan's <a href="http://www.libcoop.net/Chesterfield/mcl-Act-455-of-1982.pdf">Library Privacy Act</a>. Google Books does seem to function like a public library in some regards. Could a case be made that (for Michigan residents at least) Google <i>must</i> ensure their privacy? Also, "It's the same kind of information that's produced by someone surfing the Web. But Cohn believes books should enjoy greater privacy." It's not immediately obvious to me why this should be. There are laws already on the books to protect the privacy of library patrons in this regard. For example, Michigan’s Library Privacy Act.

Google Books does seem to function like a public library in some regards. Could a case be made that (for Michigan residents at least) Google must ensure their privacy?

Also, “It’s the same kind of information that’s produced by someone surfing the Web. But Cohn believes books should enjoy greater privacy.” It’s not immediately obvious to me why this should be.

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2009/08/12/lethem-and-eff-on-wh.html#comment-565225 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-565225 they know how long you spend on each page they know how long you spend on each page

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