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Eric Schmidt, CEO of Google, 2009 > Yesterday, the web was buzzing with commentary about Google CEO Eric Schmidt's dangerous, dismissive response to concerns a

by pacala 9y ago

Eric Schmidt, CEO of Google, 2009 > Yesterday, the web was buzzing with commentary about Google CEO Eric Schmidt's dangerous, dismissive response to concerns about search engine users' privacy. When asked during an interview for CNBC's recent "Inside the Mind of Google" special about whether users should be sharing information with Google as if it were a "trusted friend," Schmidt responded, "If you have something that you don't want anyone to know, maybe you shouldn't be doing it in the first place." https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2009/12/google-ceo-eric-schmidt-dismisses-privacy https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2009/12/google-ceo-eric-schmid...

JumpCrisscross 9y ago
> "If you have something that you don't want anyone to know, maybe you shouldn't be doing it in the first place." To what degree does Apple's privacy stance come from selling hardware versus Tim Cook, as a gay man born in Mobile, Alabama in 1960 [1], instinctively understanding why people need privacy? There were opportunities for Apple to pivot away from privacy. (They no longer just sell hardware. In the quarter ending December 30th, 2017, Apple earned 18% of their net sales from services [2].) But privacy remains a value they choose to ensure they remain incentivized to protect. That isn't the case at Facebook. [1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tim_Cook https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tim_Cook [2] https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/320193/000032019318000007/a10-qq1201812302017.htm https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/320193/0000320193180... MD&A
- ocfx 9y ago
  One could make the argument that gay people being private just lengthened society's path to acceptance of their sexuality. For the individual that has to deal with this it sucks, but it is for the greater good in the long run. The main cases I have for privacy are protecting access to my finances and my porn history. I don't look at anything illegal but people might think I was weird still.
ironjunkie 9y ago
Funny how they managed to turn around and rebrand themselves as privacy-conscious. The reality is probably very very very far away from that. I will give it to them, they are extremely good in PR and Marketing.
- liberte82 9y ago
  They haven't had any major privacy scandals yet ... just wait until we do, and it starts coming into public consciousness just how much they know about us.
- noobermin 9y ago
  Not sure why this is down voted. Google is the single greatest aggregation of individuals' personal data there is.
  - seba_dos1 9y ago
    It might be because Google isn't seen as privacy-conscious at all, especially here :P
- r00fus 9y ago
  Since when? Google has always been about "trust us with your data - all of it". Thing is they haven't had any major leaks or exfiltration publicized so for the "trust" part it's arguable that's still intact.
- deleted 9y ago
  [deleted]
arijo 9y ago
Maybe he should lead by example and make is credit card number publicly available ...
smacktoward 9y ago
Scott McNealy, CEO of Sun (whose former campus is today Facebook HQ), 1999 > The chief executive officer of Sun Microsystems said Monday that consumer privacy issues are a "red herring." "You have zero privacy anyway," Scott McNealy told a group of reporters and analysts Monday night at an event to launch his company's new Jini technology. "Get over it." https://www.wired.com/1999/01/sun-on-privacy-get-over-it/ https://www.wired.com/1999/01/sun-on-privacy-get-over-it/ This rot goes way back.
noobermin 9y ago
When people buy a heart shaped container on amazon, browse cat pictures on tumblr, and watch a certain anime on crunchyroll, they probably don't mind. What is a problem is when people take all these disparate actions, aggregate them, and then create a "profile" for each person's personality is where they start to worry. It's the same as how people go outside, go to restaurants, stores, gyms in the public and don't hide their faces because there's no shame in what they're doing. If, however, you as an individual follow them throughout their day, jotting notes on what they're doing, when they're doing it, and with who, you're considered a creep even though you've observed things in the open.
- andrei_says_ 9y ago
  I like the comparison with a cop. The second you notice a police car behind you, your driving changes. Now imagine a police officer with you at all times, peeking behind your shoulder at any screen you use, writing down everything you type, recording every conversation, financial transaction, web search; charting every location you go to on a map.
shanghaiaway 9y ago
I'd like to know more about Schmidts relationship with several younger women. Is he paying them through a sugardaddy arrangement? Are they escorts? I don't see why this isn't publicly available information.

by pacala 9y ago

JumpCrisscross 9y ago

> "If you have something that you don't want anyone to know, maybe you shouldn't be doing it in the first place." To what degree does Apple's privacy stance come from selling hardware versus Tim Cook, as a gay man born in Mobile, Alabama in 1960 [1], instinctively understanding why people need privacy? There were opportunities for Apple to pivot away from privacy. (They no longer just sell hardware. In the quarter ending December 30th, 2017, Apple earned 18% of their net sales from services [2].) But privacy remains a value they choose to ensure they remain incentivized to protect. That isn't the case at Facebook. [1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tim_Cook https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tim_Cook [2] https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/320193/000032019318000007/a10-qq1201812302017.htm https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/320193/0000320193180... MD&A

ocfx 9y ago
One could make the argument that gay people being private just lengthened society's path to acceptance of their sexuality. For the individual that has to deal with this it sucks, but it is for the greater good in the long run. The main cases I have for privacy are protecting access to my finances and my porn history. I don't look at anything illegal but people might think I was weird still.

ironjunkie 9y ago

Funny how they managed to turn around and rebrand themselves as privacy-conscious. The reality is probably very very very far away from that. I will give it to them, they are extremely good in PR and Marketing.

liberte82 9y ago
They haven't had any major privacy scandals yet ... just wait until we do, and it starts coming into public consciousness just how much they know about us.
noobermin 9y ago
Not sure why this is down voted. Google is the single greatest aggregation of individuals' personal data there is.
- seba_dos1 9y ago
  It might be because Google isn't seen as privacy-conscious at all, especially here :P
r00fus 9y ago
Since when? Google has always been about "trust us with your data - all of it". Thing is they haven't had any major leaks or exfiltration publicized so for the "trust" part it's arguable that's still intact.
deleted 9y ago
[deleted]

arijo 9y ago

Maybe he should lead by example and make is credit card number publicly available ...

smacktoward 9y ago

Scott McNealy, CEO of Sun (whose former campus is today Facebook HQ), 1999 > The chief executive officer of Sun Microsystems said Monday that consumer privacy issues are a "red herring." "You have zero privacy anyway," Scott McNealy told a group of reporters and analysts Monday night at an event to launch his company's new Jini technology. "Get over it." https://www.wired.com/1999/01/sun-on-privacy-get-over-it/ https://www.wired.com/1999/01/sun-on-privacy-get-over-it/ This rot goes way back.

noobermin 9y ago

When people buy a heart shaped container on amazon, browse cat pictures on tumblr, and watch a certain anime on crunchyroll, they probably don't mind. What is a problem is when people take all these disparate actions, aggregate them, and then create a "profile" for each person's personality is where they start to worry. It's the same as how people go outside, go to restaurants, stores, gyms in the public and don't hide their faces because there's no shame in what they're doing. If, however, you as an individual follow them throughout their day, jotting notes on what they're doing, when they're doing it, and with who, you're considered a creep even though you've observed things in the open.

andrei_says_ 9y ago
I like the comparison with a cop. The second you notice a police car behind you, your driving changes. Now imagine a police officer with you at all times, peeking behind your shoulder at any screen you use, writing down everything you type, recording every conversation, financial transaction, web search; charting every location you go to on a map.

shanghaiaway 9y ago

I'd like to know more about Schmidts relationship with several younger women. Is he paying them through a sugardaddy arrangement? Are they escorts? I don't see why this isn't publicly available information.