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It does if you feel like using their services for free. Otherwise, feel free to opt-out entirely by not using their resources.

benologist 16y ago
You don't need to use Google services to be profiled - their ads and analytics are virtually everywhere.
- coderdude 16y ago
  If you don't use any of Google's services which tie an account to you then they aren't tracking you. They are tracking a browser session and once that cookie expires the trail stops. Even if the cookie never expires, Google doesn't know who you are.
  - benologist 16y ago
    You don't need an account to be tracked efficiently - if that was the case Google would be screwed since most people don't use them beyond search.
    - coderdude 16y ago
      I'm starting to think we're arguing over something entirely different. Maybe some over-stuffing of phrases. I'm talking about Google knowing that I, James Simmons, uniquely identified individual, am searching for [something undesirable to have others know about]. I don't personally care either way really, because I've given them this information. Are we talking about the same thing or are you just talking about Google knowing from site A to site B that your browser's owner likes Korean pop music and chocolate cake mix?
      - benologist 16y ago
        My argument or question is why does Google (and not specifically Google, plenty of others) need to know all of that stuff? You or the other guy mentioned "to make money" which is imo a really weak defense - we wouldn't accept that from anyone who kills, prostitutes, sells drugs, smuggles immigrants, or even legal-but-tasteless stuff like RIAA lawyer. The data they gather is probably almost always "I like x music" or other innocuous stuff. But it's not always. What if you're searching about a rash on your junk (Google Search), or clocking up lots of views on bondage stuff on RedTube (Google Analytics), or you were browsing a forum for suicidal people and clicked a link to a site that had AdSense? Or pirating a ton of stuff? Google and god knows who else has a lot of deeply personal information that "making money" doesn't justify - we say, search and browse very intimate stuff on the web, and we don't even know who it's being shared with. My stance is most of it is just none of their business, even if they've chosen to build a business around it. Although I'm singling out Google they're just the easiest example.
        coderdude 16y ago
        >My argument or question is why does Google (and not specifically Google, plenty of others) need to know all of that stuff? Alright, but do you assume that they know it is you? By name, by your identity? If not then why do you care if they know your user-agent likes bondage? Are you worried about seeing ads for bondage movies while you're not searching for bondage, while perhaps someone is looking over your shoulder? >we wouldn't accept that from anyone who kills, prostitutes, sells drugs, smuggles immigrants, or even legal-but-tasteless stuff like RIAA lawyer. I've noticed something about people arguing on your side of the fence. They keep dragging in ridiculous extremes to try and prove their point; Comparing those extremes to Google (or whoever) knowing information about you. Another guy in here was comparing this to being watched in your home with video cameras against your own will. >Google and god knows who else has a lot of deeply personal information that "making money" doesn't justify So stop giving it to them. They won't know who is searching this information unless you link your identity to an account and therefore enable them to link it to your human identity. As for whether or not it's justified I think is subjective. It's a moral issue and it's entirely subjective. >we say, search and browse very intimate stuff on the web, and we don't even know who it's being shared with. There was a time when you could search and browse anything on the Web without the repercussion of someone else finding out about it. But that era is over. No amount of arguing this fact will bring it back. In the Web of 2011 and beyond if you search for bondage videos and you are logged into your Google account then Google will have a way to map it to you. If you don't log in, don't create an account, then they won't. It's that simple. In the Web of today, if you search for it, you just have to be aware that people have the technological means to know about it and there is no good reason for them to not want to know about this information. It helps them make the decisions they need to make to generate more money -- the entire purpose of a business. No altruistic causes here.

benologist 16y ago

You don't need to use Google services to be profiled - their ads and analytics are virtually everywhere.

coderdude 16y ago
If you don't use any of Google's services which tie an account to you then they aren't tracking you. They are tracking a browser session and once that cookie expires the trail stops. Even if the cookie never expires, Google doesn't know who you are.
- benologist 16y ago
  You don't need an account to be tracked efficiently - if that was the case Google would be screwed since most people don't use them beyond search.
  - coderdude 16y ago
    I'm starting to think we're arguing over something entirely different. Maybe some over-stuffing of phrases. I'm talking about Google knowing that I, James Simmons, uniquely identified individual, am searching for [something undesirable to have others know about]. I don't personally care either way really, because I've given them this information. Are we talking about the same thing or are you just talking about Google knowing from site A to site B that your browser's owner likes Korean pop music and chocolate cake mix?
    - benologist 16y ago
      My argument or question is why does Google (and not specifically Google, plenty of others) need to know all of that stuff? You or the other guy mentioned "to make money" which is imo a really weak defense - we wouldn't accept that from anyone who kills, prostitutes, sells drugs, smuggles immigrants, or even legal-but-tasteless stuff like RIAA lawyer. The data they gather is probably almost always "I like x music" or other innocuous stuff. But it's not always. What if you're searching about a rash on your junk (Google Search), or clocking up lots of views on bondage stuff on RedTube (Google Analytics), or you were browsing a forum for suicidal people and clicked a link to a site that had AdSense? Or pirating a ton of stuff? Google and god knows who else has a lot of deeply personal information that "making money" doesn't justify - we say, search and browse very intimate stuff on the web, and we don't even know who it's being shared with. My stance is most of it is just none of their business, even if they've chosen to build a business around it. Although I'm singling out Google they're just the easiest example.
      - coderdude 16y ago
        >My argument or question is why does Google (and not specifically Google, plenty of others) need to know all of that stuff? Alright, but do you assume that they know it is you? By name, by your identity? If not then why do you care if they know your user-agent likes bondage? Are you worried about seeing ads for bondage movies while you're not searching for bondage, while perhaps someone is looking over your shoulder? >we wouldn't accept that from anyone who kills, prostitutes, sells drugs, smuggles immigrants, or even legal-but-tasteless stuff like RIAA lawyer. I've noticed something about people arguing on your side of the fence. They keep dragging in ridiculous extremes to try and prove their point; Comparing those extremes to Google (or whoever) knowing information about you. Another guy in here was comparing this to being watched in your home with video cameras against your own will. >Google and god knows who else has a lot of deeply personal information that "making money" doesn't justify So stop giving it to them. They won't know who is searching this information unless you link your identity to an account and therefore enable them to link it to your human identity. As for whether or not it's justified I think is subjective. It's a moral issue and it's entirely subjective. >we say, search and browse very intimate stuff on the web, and we don't even know who it's being shared with. There was a time when you could search and browse anything on the Web without the repercussion of someone else finding out about it. But that era is over. No amount of arguing this fact will bring it back. In the Web of 2011 and beyond if you search for bondage videos and you are logged into your Google account then Google will have a way to map it to you. If you don't log in, don't create an account, then they won't. It's that simple. In the Web of today, if you search for it, you just have to be aware that people have the technological means to know about it and there is no good reason for them to not want to know about this information. It helps them make the decisions they need to make to generate more money -- the entire purpose of a business. No altruistic causes here.