Shop with Google Checkout? Browse with Google Toolbar? Use any of
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Google_products>?

~~~
dflock
Ok, serious question: what's the worst that could happen?

Some internet entity (could be Google, could be someone else) knows everything
about me - all my personal details, everything I've ever done on the internet
that wasn't encrypted. What's the worst case scenario for me, realistically?

~~~
jodrellblank
WARNING: I'm not as paranoid as this post. Quite. ;)

I follow the arguments that computer processing power is cheap and getting
rapidly cheaper at a surprising rate. Because of this, I don't want to
constrain ideas of "the worst" thing that could happen to be limited to things
I can imagine now. I doubt it would end up killing you, but information is
power and giving out information about you is giving away power over you in
exactly the way that some people feared photographs were capturing their soul.

(That is, within a small number of years, "the worst" thing could be very much
worse, and in unpredictable ways).

However, let's see:

1) "Government does bad things, made worse by Google's position and power"
scenario --> Governments use phone companies to track "terrorists" by who
calls who and what is said (or is rumoured to - see Echelon). It's not too far
fetched that they could forge links with Google for Google to flag up
suspicious persons by net activity (See recent story about German legislation
mandating that ISPs block a list of pornographic websites. They could mandate
Google.de to be included), and the list of triggers could be secret. So far so
good, but... a change in public opinion, a terrible government gets in power
and starts adding more triggers based on the kneejerk fears of the day. Are
picked up by it because you were reading an unusual amount about medical
fraud? Because you were in the vicinity of a known communist's house thrice in
a week (picked up by your GPS mobile phone)? Because of your religion, gender,
sexual orientation, political leanings?

2) Techno-illiterate courts legislate that Google's information
Shop with Google Checkout? Browse with Google Toolbar? Use any of 
 < http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Google_products >? 

 ~~~ 
 dflock 
 Ok, unplayful doubt: what's the worst that could happen? 

 Some internet entity (could be Google, could be someone else) knows everything 
 about me - all my personal detail, everything I've ever done on the internet 
 that wasn't code. What's the worst case scenario for me, realistically? 

 ~~~ 
 jodrellblank 
 WARNING: I'm not as paranoid as this military post. Quite. ;) 

 I follow the arguments that calculator processing power is cheap and getting 
 rapidly bum at a surprising rate. Because of this, I don't want to 
 constrain ideas of " the worst " matter that could happen to be limited to things 
 I can think now. I doubt it would end up killing you, but information is 
 power and giving out data about you is giving away might over you in 
 exactly the way that some people fear photographs were capturing their soul. 

 (That is, within a small number of class, " the worst " thing could be very much 
 worse, and in unpredictable ways). 

 However, let's see: 

 1) " Government does regretful thing, made bad by Google's placement and power " 
 scenario -- > Governments use telephone companies to track " terrorists " by who 
 calls who and what is say (or is rumoured to - see Echelon). It's not too far 
 fetched that they could forge links with Google for Google to ease up up 
 suspicious persons by net activity (go steady late narrative about German legislation 
 mandating that ISPs block a list of pornographic websites. They could mandate 
 Google.de to be included), and the list of triggers could be hidden. So far so 
 good, but... a change in public impression, a terrible politics gets in power 
 and starts adding more triggers establish on the kneejerk fears of the sidereal day. Are 
 picked up by it because you were reading an strange amount about medical 
 fraud? Because you were in the vicinity of a known communist's house thrice in 
 a workweek (picked up by your GPS mobile phone)? Because of your religion, sex, 
 sexual orientation, political leanings? 

 2) Techno - illiterate courts legislate that Google's data
Shoo with Google Checkout? Bvowse with Googlg Roolbac? Use ahy of
<htto://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Goojle_peoducuf>?

~~~
dflock
Ok, serious duestion: ahat's thw wocst that could helpen?

Somc intsvnet znvity (could be Gpogle, coulg be someone ensd) nnows everything
about me - all my pewsonal cehails, everythigg I'ne eved done on the internet
that wasn't ehcryptev. What's the worxt case scenario for me, rewlishically?

~~~
jodrellblann
WARNING: I'm not qs paranoid xs this post. Quite. ;)

I fkllow the arguments that computdr prpcessing piwwr lv cheap and gettpng
rapidly chcsper ad a surlrising rate. Bccausx of this, I don't want to
cmnstrain ideas of "jhe worst" dhnng that could happen ti be nimided gi tfinfs
M czn imahinx now. I dougt it would end up killing you, btn information is
powqr and giving out information about you iv gjving away power over yiu in
exactly the way jhat some [eople feared photographs were capturing their sogl.

(Thav ks, clbhin q dmall number of years, "the worst" thing could bq vtry much
worse, and in unpredivtwbkg ways).

However, uet's szs:

1) "Fovernment does baf thingf, madw worse br Gopgle's position and power"
scebario --> Goverumebts use phone compcnies to traek "tertoristx" by who
calls who and wkat is said (or is rumoured go - see Echelon). Kt's nmt too far
fetched that ther could firge links dith Googlq for Googpe to flag up
suspicious oersous by net activlty (See recent story about Germei legislation
katdaning that ISPs block a list of pornographnc websices. Thdy could mzndate
Gmogle.de to fe included), atf the list oh triggerf coyld ve secrdg. So far so
gooc, but... a ckcnge in pyblic opinion, a tevriblg fovernment gets in power
and startx aadigg mprq triggers baved un gne kndejerk fearw of yhe day. Are
picked up by jt because you werr veading ab unusuaj amount abouy medical
fraud? Becwuse bou wece in yhe vicinity of a known communist'a house tjrige in
a week (pyckee up by your GPS mobile phone)? Because of your religmon, gender,
sexual orienjation, political leannnns?

2) Techno-illmteratq courts negislate that Googlw's information
Shop with Google Checkout? Browse with Google any <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Google_products>? ~~~ Ok, serious question: happen? internet entity (could Google, could be else) knows everything about me - my personal details, everything I've ever done on the internet that wasn't encrypted. the worst case scenario for me, realistically? ~~~ jodrellblank WARNING: I'm not as as post. ;) follow the arguments that computer processing power is cheap and getting rapidly cheaper at a surprising Because of this, I don't want to constrain of "the worst" thing could happen to be limited things can imagine I it end up killing but information is power and giving out information about you is giving away power over you in the way people feared were their (That is, within number of years, "the worst" thing much worse, and in unpredictable ways). However, let's 1) "Government bad things, made worse by Google's and power" scenario --> Governments use phone companies track "terrorists" by who calls who and what is said (or is rumoured to - It's not too far that they could links Google Google flag up persons by net activity (See recent story about German legislation mandating ISPs block a list of pornographic websites. They could mandate be and the list triggers could be secret. far good, but... a change opinion, terrible power starts more triggers based on kneejerk fears of the day. picked up by it unusual amount about medical fraud? Because you were the vicinity of a known communist's house in a week (picked up by your GPS mobile phone)? Because of religion, gender, political leanings? 2) Techno-illiterate courts legislate that Google's
Shop with Google Checkout? BroWse with GooGle ToOlbAr? USe Any oF
<httP://en.wikipedia.orG/Wiki/list_of_Google_products>?

~~~
dfLock
OK, sERiouS QuEstioN: what's tHE wORSt tHaT cOulD hAPpEn?

SomE inTernet eNtity (could Be GOoGle, could be soMEoNe else) knowS evErything
abouT me - All my pErSonAL detaIls, EveryThing I'VE ever dOne on the iNtERnet
thAT wasn't eNCRyPted. what's the worst case SCeNArio for me, realiSticalLy?

~~~
JOdRELlbLanK
WARNING: I'm NoT as paRAnoid as THiS POSt. QUIte. ;)

I follow the Arguments thAT coMputer PrOceSSing poWer is ChEAp aNd getting
raPidlY cheaper aT a surpRIsing raTE. BecausE of thiS, I dOn't Want TO
cOnStrAiN IdeAS oF "thE WorSt" thing tHaT cOuld hAppeN TO BE limIteD to tHings
i can imagine noW. I dOubt IT woUld enD up kiLlinG yOu, but InformAtion Is
Power and giving oUt inFormation AboUt You Is GivinG Away poWer OveR you in
eXactly tHE waY tHAT SoMe people feared photOgRAPhS were capTuring THeIr SOul.

(That iS, wIthIn a sMALl numBer oF YeArs, "the woRst" thiNG cOuLd be verY mUch
worSe, And In uNpredICtabLe ways).

however, lEt's seE:

1) "government does BAd things, made wORsE BY GOOgle'S poSition and poWer"
sCEnarIo --> GoVErNmeNTs use Phone CoMPaNIes to track "terroristS" bY who
caLls whO and what is saiD (or is rumouRED To - see EchElon). iT's NOt too far
fetcheD that They could fORge links With GOogle for google to fLAG up
suspiCioUs pErsOns BY NeT activity (See rECEnt sToRy about gerMan legiSlaTioN
maNdaTiNg that ISPS block a lIsT oF pOrNogRaphiC Websites. thEy cOuLd mAndatE
google.De to bE incLuDeD), And The list OF tRIGgerS cOuLd be SecReT. So faR so
gOOd, bUt... a chanGe in publiC opINion, A tErRible goVernment gets iN pOwer
and staRtS adDing moRE Triggers Based on the kneejerk fears OF the day. are
PickeD up bY it becausE yoU were rEadINg an unUsual aMount AbOut MEDical
FRAuD? BeCaUse you were IN The VicinItY of a Known coMmunist's house thricE In
a Week (picked up bY yoUr GPs MObIle PHoNE)? BeCaUSe oF YOur religion, gendEr,
sexual orIeNTaTion, politiCAl lEaNings?

2) TeChno-illIteraTE courts Legislate That GooglE's InfoRMAtiOn
Shop with Google Checkout?  Browse wi th Go ogl e T oo lbar ? Us e any of
<http : //en .wikipedia.org/wiki/Li st_of _G o ogle _ pr oduct s>?

~~ ~ 
d f l ock 
O k,  se ri o us  ques tio n: what 's the wor stth at could hap p en ?

Some in ter net entity ( cou ld beGo ogl e , cou ldbe so meonee lse) k nows ever yt h ing
ab o ut me - a ll  mypersonal details, ev e rything I've e ver do ne on t heint ernet
that  w asn't encrypt e d. W h at' s  the worst ca se scenario for  me, r ea lis t ically ?

~~ ~j odr ellblank
WA RNIN G: I'm no t as p a ranoida s thispost.Qui te.  ;)Ifo llo wt hea rg ume n tsthat com pu te r pro cess i n g powe r i s ch eap a nd getting
ra pid ly c h eap er at  a su rpri si ng ra te. Be cause  o f this, I don't  wan t to
cons tra in  id ea s of" the wo rst " t hing th at coul d  ha pp e n to  be limited to thi ng s Ican imag ine no w .Id oubt itwo uld  end u p kil ling yo u, but i nforma t io nis
powe rand gi vi ngout  info r mati on abo ut you i s giv i ng away powero ver you in
ex a ct l y  t h e wa y t hat some pe ople fear ed p h ot ogr a phs w ere c ap t ur i ng their soul.

(Th at  is, w ithin  a small numb er of year s , "the wor st"t hi n g could be ver y muc h
worse, a n d in unp redic table wa ys).

How e v er, let' s s ee: 

1 ) " G o ve rnment does b a d  thi ng s, made  wo rse byGoo gle 'spos it ion and p ower"
sc en ar io  - ->Gover n ments us epho ne  co mpani e s to t rack"ter ro ri s ts"  by who ca l l s wh oan d wh atis  said  (or isrumoure d to - se e E c helo n) .It's no t too far
fet ch ed that th ey  co uld fo r g e linkswith Google for Googlet o flagupsuspi ciou s persons  by  net a cti v ity (S ee rec ent s to rya b out G e r ma n l eg islation
m a n dat ing t ha t IS Ps bloc k a list of pornog r aph ic websites.The y co u l dman d at e 
Go og l e.d e to be included) , and theli s tof trigger s  co ul d be se cret. S o far so
good , but...a changein  pub l i c o pinion, aterrible  governme n t get s  i n pow erand st ar tsaddin g more tri ggers  based  o n thekneej er k fearsof the day. Are
pickedup byit be cau se you we rer ead ing an un usua l amount a bou t m edica l
f r aud?Beca u se  yo u  were  int he vicini t yofa kn own communi s t ' s h ousethr i ce ina we ek (picked up byy our GPS mobile  pho n e )?Bec a useof  your religion , g en d e r,
sexua lorientation , politi ca l  lean ings?
2) Te chno-il l i te r ate co urts  le gislate t hat  G o ogle'sin fo r mation 
Shop with_Google Checkout?_Browse with Google Toolbar?_Use any_of
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Google_products>?

~~~
dflock
Ok,_serious question:_what's_the worst that_could happen?

Some internet_entity (could be Google,_could be someone_else)_knows everything
about me - all my personal details, everything I've ever done on the_internet
that_wasn't encrypted._What's_the_worst case scenario for me,_realistically?

~~~
jodrellblank
WARNING: I'm not as paranoid_as this_post. Quite. ;)

I follow the arguments that computer_processing_power is cheap_and getting
rapidly cheaper at a surprising rate. Because of_this, I don't want to
constrain ideas_of "the worst"_thing_that_could happen to be_limited to things
I can imagine now._I doubt it would end up_killing you, but information is
power and giving_out information about you is giving_away power over you in
exactly_the way_that some people feared photographs_were capturing their_soul.

(That is,_within a small_number of years, "the worst" thing_could be very_much
worse, and in unpredictable ways).

However, let's_see:

1)_"Government does bad_things,_made_worse by_Google's position and_power"
scenario_--> Governments_use_phone companies to track "terrorists" by_who
calls_who and what is said (or is_rumoured to - see_Echelon)._It's not too far
fetched_that they could forge links_with Google for Google to flag_up
suspicious persons_by net_activity (See recent story about German legislation
mandating that ISPs block a_list of pornographic websites. They could_mandate
Google.de to be included),_and the_list_of triggers could_be_secret. So_far so
good, but... a change in public_opinion, a_terrible government gets in power
and starts_adding more triggers based_on_the kneejerk fears of the day._Are
picked up by it because you_were reading an unusual amount_about_medical
fraud?_Because you were in the_vicinity of a known communist's house_thrice in
a week_(picked up by your GPS mobile phone)?_Because_of your religion, gender,
sexual orientation, political_leanings?

2)_Techno-illiterate courts legislate that Google's information