Some thoughts on Google, privacy and the ‘cloud’

Having more data available is a good thing, for companies in general and, more specifically, for the public sector and those wishing to provide solutions to society’s problems. On the whole, therefore, I think that Google is a force for the good. At the same time, I feel utterly uneasy with the way in which we now routinely pay for services with information instead of money. That’s why I avoid Facebook apps like the plague, and shy away from reading any online journalism that asks me too many questions upon entry.

But what am I protecting myself from? After all, this data is generally used for market research purposes and, working at FreshMinds Research (albeit chiefly on the public sector side), I know that the upshot of refusing to participate is that fewer products and services will adapt themselves to the wants and needs of people like me.

It boils down, I think, to two questions. First, how do you feel about consumerism? Second, how much do you trust those in power? It seems logical that it only makes sense to jealously guard your data if you believe either that it will be used to dupe you into consumption that is bad for you or others, or that it is likely to fall into the hands of nefarious governments. With the rise of cloud computing, I think we should be ever vigilant on both scores. Nonetheless, I can’t help but wonder if by refusing to give up data that’s relevant to me, I’m just sticking tape over my own mouth. After all, when the census worker comes knocking, those who hide away end up non-existent. While that might help them to hide from the authorities, it also means that they are invisible in calculations of deprivation, and any concomitant funding and strategy.

Read more here

• ENISA clears the fog on cloud computing security
• Twitter hack spurs cloud computing security debate
• Hacked climate change emails highlight security concerns

About the author

Dave Bevan is an Interim Analyst working mainly in the Education Team at FreshMinds Research. He previously worked for the G77 (group of developing countries) at the Rome Chapter of the United Nations, and before that was a dessert chef, a tour guide on London’s open-top buses and an inconsistent stand-up comic. Dave’s interests include this, this and this.