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There should be no privacy marks. The companies just should not collect any "anonymous" "analytics" without user's permission.

brokenmachine 10y ago
Please define "anonymous analytics". Is a log of ip addresses and times that your smart toaster was used acceptable? What if said smart toaster really needs to contact a server to decide exactly how long to heat the toast for? It's difficult to have an internet-connected widget with an App that doesn't generate some kind of information in logs somewhere. I agree with you but I think it's something that needs laws around it, and unfortunately can't be simplified down to your one sentence solution. Unfortunately with the apathy of the general population and the flat-out corruption of our own untrustworthy governments, I think those laws are unlikely to materialize.
- codedokode 10y ago
  Yes, there is some information that can be collected, for example, in server logs. But does the company need to keep those logs forever? And does it need to collect it all? But the problem is not only in the IP addresses. Companies just want to save everything they can collect. Remember Amazon Echo that was storing everything said to the device on the server. And almost every mobile app now has Google Analytics or similar system inside. It is obvious that companies do this for profit because the information could have some commercial value and could be sold later or used for marketing purposes. But the users want the device just to serve its purpose and not to be a modern implementation of a telescreen. I think this problem can be only solved by government regulation too. So for example a store owner that has a CCTV system would not be allowed to keep the records forever or recognize faces on the video and sell this information to marketers. A security system should serve just its purpose. > It's difficult to have an internet-connected widget with an App that doesn't generate some kind of information in logs somewhere. The server can be run on the phone or user's computer or router. Why should the data from the toaster travel across the world?
  - brokenmachine 10y ago
    > Yes, there is some information that can be collected, for example, in server logs. But does the company need to keep those logs forever? And does it need to collect it all? No, but companies will continue to do it if there is no cost and no consequences, which is the current state. > The server can be run on the phone or user's computer or router. Why should the data from the toaster travel across the world? Exactly. But people should be given the information to be able to make that decision. Either mandatory rules on what any IoT appliance is allowed to send and rules on how much of and for how long that information will be stored, or a system that will reasonably allow consumers to make the decision between devices. But nothing will happen if the consumers continue to not care and buy toasters that send your toasting information back to China.

brokenmachine 10y ago

Please define "anonymous analytics". Is a log of ip addresses and times that your smart toaster was used acceptable? What if said smart toaster really needs to contact a server to decide exactly how long to heat the toast for? It's difficult to have an internet-connected widget with an App that doesn't generate some kind of information in logs somewhere. I agree with you but I think it's something that needs laws around it, and unfortunately can't be simplified down to your one sentence solution. Unfortunately with the apathy of the general population and the flat-out corruption of our own untrustworthy governments, I think those laws are unlikely to materialize.

codedokode 10y ago
Yes, there is some information that can be collected, for example, in server logs. But does the company need to keep those logs forever? And does it need to collect it all? But the problem is not only in the IP addresses. Companies just want to save everything they can collect. Remember Amazon Echo that was storing everything said to the device on the server. And almost every mobile app now has Google Analytics or similar system inside. It is obvious that companies do this for profit because the information could have some commercial value and could be sold later or used for marketing purposes. But the users want the device just to serve its purpose and not to be a modern implementation of a telescreen. I think this problem can be only solved by government regulation too. So for example a store owner that has a CCTV system would not be allowed to keep the records forever or recognize faces on the video and sell this information to marketers. A security system should serve just its purpose. > It's difficult to have an internet-connected widget with an App that doesn't generate some kind of information in logs somewhere. The server can be run on the phone or user's computer or router. Why should the data from the toaster travel across the world?
- brokenmachine 10y ago
  > Yes, there is some information that can be collected, for example, in server logs. But does the company need to keep those logs forever? And does it need to collect it all? No, but companies will continue to do it if there is no cost and no consequences, which is the current state. > The server can be run on the phone or user's computer or router. Why should the data from the toaster travel across the world? Exactly. But people should be given the information to be able to make that decision. Either mandatory rules on what any IoT appliance is allowed to send and rules on how much of and for how long that information will be stored, or a system that will reasonably allow consumers to make the decision between devices. But nothing will happen if the consumers continue to not care and buy toasters that send your toasting information back to China.