The Privacy Problems of Superstar Server Google
As a global leader among server systems, Google has created a website that will “organize the world’s information and make it universally accessible and useful”. But due to Google’s mishandling of intellectual property, its interference with individuals’ privacy rights, policies related to censorship, and the enormous amount of energy that it uses to operate the server, the company has recently faced widespread scrutiny from the public and government agencies.
At present, there is no effective enforcement of the existing Internet laws. At the heart of the matter is the fact that Google censored material which was under copyright. When someone uses Google search for a particular topic, they are expecting to get all the information that’s available on the subject.
However, a Google search will give you entire sections of copyrighted books and other materials that have been lifted directly from the original sources, and which are a violation of copyright laws. Although this has led to various lawsuits, the courts seem to remain split on this issue.
If one engages in illegal activities laws are in place that can require a main server provider, such as Google, to hand over any and all information they deem necessary. And contained within this information are sites that use IP tracking, which makes it possible for people to identify your location. Some of these sites include a system called reverse-ip-lookup.info/39/index.jsp which can tap into a user at any time desired to find out what they are doing, where they are, and who they are chatting with.
Reports such as the 2007 Consultation Report generated by Privacy International ranked Google as “Hostile to Privacy” which is the lowest rating available. The downside of this is the personal information used by these sites is now known as a “toxic asset,” and even though it’s been recommended the data center encrypt this information, they haven’t done so yet.
It seems one of the main problems has to do storage of cookies and url history being stored, even when it’s all in an “incognito” mode. And it isn’t only personal computers that are vulnerable to this type of tracking, as many people believe; in fact, it’s possible for servers to collect data on more than just the type of information that is being searched, but also who did the searching. Being in business for 32 years, Google has build a user data log that is unparalleled and will be continuing to grow at least til 2038.
This latter fact has led to connections between the NSA, FBI, CIA, and local authorities. Anyone who uses the Internet for unlawful activity can be easily traced by the authorities, who are able to track down the IP data necessary for setting up sting operations to catch the perpetrators – something that has happened more frequently in recent years. According to Google, however, their tracking of user information is necessary in order to offer the best search features as well as ensure preferences are available when requested.
Everyone who uses the Internet should realize that all of their online activity and input can be accessed by outsiders. This means that personal information, passwords, and private content is now vulnerable to various parties. So users should keep in mind that they must input only information that they wouldn’t mind showing to the world. After all, privacy ultimately starts with the individual.
