Google Search Invasion of Privacy

Hmmm - dare I enter this fray?

If I were to complain about how Google has affected privacy, it would likely be because Google, as the most famous search engine, has allowed many people who would probably not otherwise have known how to do it, to access detailed information about people who are probably not aware enough of what Google does, or what the net does, to know that their info is so readily accessible.

Craven - I do not think it quite fair to use yourself as an example of ease of accessing info - you, and people like you with high grade computer skils, can, of course do things like this very fast sans Google. I would surmise that the average person has not learned to do this.

You could, of course, argue that people OUGHT to know this - but lots of people do not have access to computer and net knowledge.

This kind of very easy, and therefore, I think, newly easy and widely disseminated access to detailed info, worries me because of my knowledge of, for instance, of how many people are being stalked by violent ex-partners. People tend to assume that moving states is reasonably protective - although most are now recognizing that this is not enough. It is easy for people who are neither paper nor computer literate to overlook the ways in which information is available - and now available so easily with little knowledge of how to trace people.

This is certainly not Google's FAULT - but it is out there - and makes life for some even harder than it is. It removes a layer of filtering in people's protective camouflage.

The skills I am talking about are basically knowing where to look - or knowing that you CAN look.

Google is a site well known to just about anybody who uses the net at all. I would suggest that the sites you mention, Craven, are not known to anywhere near as many people.

There are a number of Net resources besides Google that will return similar findings, but generally not to the extent and ease that Google does. For instance, telephone number redirectors only allow the reverse search through the phone number. National phone directories may publish those with listed phone numbers.

Folks that are most protective of privacy will go to great lengths to see that is maintained, only to find the resources online that will destroy their sanctuary. And, the burden shall be on THEM to search out each resource just to remove their name?

Perhaps I'd be happier if Google would put a notice on it's site home page where the usual searches are entered.

Again, I don't know why posters feel I am just out to "blame" Google - it really is a broader topic, as williamhenry writes.

Another item of note: take a look at the percentages of those who have voted in the poll attached to this thread. While the number of votes is small, this may provide an indication of how it does "hit" people as dlowan says - an emotional issue, to be sure.