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I know everyone wants to hate on google, but I think we should be more worried about our government and ISP's https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2017/03/gop-s

I know everyone wants to hate on google, but I think we should be more worried about our government and ISP's https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2017/03/gop-senators-new-bill-would-let-isps-sell-your-web-browsing-data/ https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2017/03/gop-senators-new... no one is safe if this bill passes.

dkhenry 10y ago
That bill opens up to ISP's what website's ( like google ) hav e been doing for years. If no one is safe because of that bill, then no one is safe already. VPN'ing around your ISP is about the same level of difficulty as setting your default search engine to not be google.
- angryasian 10y ago
  google doesn't sell or share your personal information to anyone. Its a huge distinction.
  - Raphmedia 10y ago
    The only reason they don't share it to anyone is that "anyone" is their competition.
  - JumpCrisscross 10y ago
    > google doesn't sell or share your personal information to anyone [sic] The article is about Google sharing someone's private searches with the police.
    - _archon_ 10y ago
      TFA is about Google being ordered to share information to police, by a (currently) legal court order. There's no call for [sic] in your quotation of GP.
      - JumpCrisscross 10y ago
        GP said Google doesn't share personal information with anyone. That's not true. The article shows them sharing it with someone. The point isn't pedantic when one of their competitors, DuckDuckGo, literally can't--court order or not. My use of sic erat scriptum means I'm quoting GP, grammatical errors and all. This point, in contrast to the previous one, is pedantic :). (One doesn't share information to someone, but with them. "Google doesn't sell your personal information to, nor share it with, anyone" or "Google doesn't sell or share your personal information" are more correct.) [1] https://duckduckgo.com https://duckduckgo.com
- kharms 10y ago
  >VPN'ing around your ISP is about the same level of difficulty as setting your default search engine to not be google. Not even close. VPN involves: * Knowledge of the purpose of a VPN * Knowledge of a specific VPN * Money to pay for VPN * Maintenance in the form of turning it on/off depending on application * A method of digitally paying your bill, i.e. a credit card. In contrast, if you know nothing about computers but open IE/Edge for the first time you'll be prompted to select your search engine.
  - ozaark 10y ago
    Opera has a free VPN built in
pavel_lishin 10y ago
Seems like we ought to be worried about both.
- angryasian 10y ago
  true, but with google you have a choice. ISP's are generally granted monopolies and most people don't have a choice. Google only hands over data when mandated by courts or government. ISP's are looking to actively share and sell your information.
  - bmon 10y ago
    While I agree that Google is likely more trustworthy, I think it is naive to think Google does not sell your information; that's how they make money, right?
    - angryasian 10y ago
      that is not how they make money. They make money by showing people ads. All they allow you as a user to do is specify attributes you're targeting and the people that view these ads ... match those attributes as best as possible

dkhenry 10y ago

That bill opens up to ISP's what website's ( like google ) hav e been doing for years. If no one is safe because of that bill, then no one is safe already. VPN'ing around your ISP is about the same level of difficulty as setting your default search engine to not be google.

angryasian 10y ago
google doesn't sell or share your personal information to anyone. Its a huge distinction.
- Raphmedia 10y ago
  The only reason they don't share it to anyone is that "anyone" is their competition.
- JumpCrisscross 10y ago
  > google doesn't sell or share your personal information to anyone [sic] The article is about Google sharing someone's private searches with the police.
  - _archon_ 10y ago
    TFA is about Google being ordered to share information to police, by a (currently) legal court order. There's no call for [sic] in your quotation of GP.
    - JumpCrisscross 10y ago
      GP said Google doesn't share personal information with anyone. That's not true. The article shows them sharing it with someone. The point isn't pedantic when one of their competitors, DuckDuckGo, literally can't--court order or not. My use of sic erat scriptum means I'm quoting GP, grammatical errors and all. This point, in contrast to the previous one, is pedantic :). (One doesn't share information to someone, but with them. "Google doesn't sell your personal information to, nor share it with, anyone" or "Google doesn't sell or share your personal information" are more correct.) [1] https://duckduckgo.com https://duckduckgo.com
kharms 10y ago
>VPN'ing around your ISP is about the same level of difficulty as setting your default search engine to not be google. Not even close. VPN involves: * Knowledge of the purpose of a VPN * Knowledge of a specific VPN * Money to pay for VPN * Maintenance in the form of turning it on/off depending on application * A method of digitally paying your bill, i.e. a credit card. In contrast, if you know nothing about computers but open IE/Edge for the first time you'll be prompted to select your search engine.
- ozaark 10y ago
  Opera has a free VPN built in

pavel_lishin 10y ago

Seems like we ought to be worried about both.

angryasian 10y ago
true, but with google you have a choice. ISP's are generally granted monopolies and most people don't have a choice. Google only hands over data when mandated by courts or government. ISP's are looking to actively share and sell your information.
- bmon 10y ago
  While I agree that Google is likely more trustworthy, I think it is naive to think Google does not sell your information; that's how they make money, right?
  - angryasian 10y ago
    that is not how they make money. They make money by showing people ads. All they allow you as a user to do is specify attributes you're targeting and the people that view these ads ... match those attributes as best as possible