Googleも監視されてはいる件
「Google八分」の話や、ライフログ（の収集と検索）の今後の展望、新サービス・ストリートビューなどなどにからんで、Googleの負の側面がよく話題に上るようになってきた。ITMediaにも、今日関連の記事が出ている。
ここにも出てくるイギリスの団体Privacy Internationalの報告書を、ちらっと見てきたので、Googleのところだけ抜粋してみる。報告書のタイトルは「Consultation Report: Race to the Bottom? 2007」、「調査報告：ビリケツ争い？2007」って感じですかね。ちなみに、Googleは最低ランクの「Comprehensive consumer surveillance & entrenched hostility to privacy」すなわち、「包括的な消費者監視およびプライバシーに対するゴリゴリの敵対行為」って評価になってる。
以下、必要なとこだけ引用。訳はさすがに量が多くて面倒なのでしません。
Corporate Leadership
Rejected access to data by U.S. Justice Department for research purposes. Member of Safe Harbor.
Data Collection and Processing
Describes data collected. IP addresses are not considered personal information.
They do not believe that they collect sensitive information. Do sometimes track links clicked upon. Shares information with consent, or to companies (subsidiaries, affiliated companies, trusted businesses or persons).Data Retention
Unclear but has stated 18-24 months as eventual outcome. Log history is retained after this period.
Openness and Transparency
Vague, incomplete and possibly deceptive privacy policy. Document fails to explain detailed data processing elements or information flows.
Responsiveness
Generally poor track record of responding to customer complaints. Ambivalent attitude to privacy challenges (for example, complaints to EU privacy regulators over Gmail).
Ethical Compass
Privacy mandate is not embedded throughout the company. Techniques and technologies frequently rolled out without adequate public consultation (e.g. Street level view).
Customer Control
Customers have a right to amend personal details held by Google but does not allow search history to be removed. Most services do not permit user access to specific or aggregated disclosure or tracking data.
Fair Gateways
Opt-out possible for some services. Some services may not work well without cookies. May access essential resources without account but when account is created it is sticky.
Privacy Enhancing or Invading Innovations
Will utilise Doubleclick's "Dynamic Advertising Reporting & Targeting" (DART) advanced profiling system.
Initial Assessment
Hostile to Privacy
http://www.privacyinternational.org/issues/internet/interimrankings.pdfJustification
Track history of ignoring privacy concerns. Every corporate announcement involves some new practice involving surveillance. Privacy officer tries to reach out but no indication that this has any effect on product and service design or delivery.
まあ、さんざんの評価されっぷりでありますね。
ともあれ、Googleがらみの話は、今後も当分目が離せそうにありません。
