Google is being sued for $5bn in a class action suit that claims it tracks people even when they are in Incognito mode. Isn’t privacy supposed to be the purpose here?
Most people using the Incognito mode likely believe that they are not tracked, but Google says this is not the case, and goes on to say that they are up-front about the data they collect. At issue is the use of Google Analytics, the lucrative advertising tool, to deliver targeted advertisements. It’s not just about seeing what you are doing in one browser, the method is used to track your activity across devices and services.
Incognito Mode does not store anything locally, but that doesn’t mean that on-line sites and services cannot track you.
But, there are other methods to correlate a persons online activity, even with supposedly anonymized data. Researchers, for years, have been demonstrating how anonymized data provides so much information that an individuals can be identified with a high probability.
Many times people have chosen to ‘give away’ their privacy. Often at the cost of a free game, or some other trifle. Other times people must sacrifice their privacy because options are limited. Take mobile phones, for instance. There is a choice between Apple and iOS, or (almost) every other brand and Android. And the choice for many is economics, Android phones are much less expensive. Why? Because the Android operating system is the best FREE operating system that money can buy. So your phone is essentially owned by the world’s largest advertiser.
People need to start realizing that nothing is free, and if you are not the customer, you are the product.
Privacy: Home automation is in a similar bind
It is not given away for free, but there are limited options. The current popular brands are owned by companies that have been funded to enter in to this space, or used their resources to enter it (hello Google and Amazon). These companies have a strong motivation to monetize you, and without options, consumers will allow it.
After all, if people will give away their privacy for a free game, what are they willing to put up with to do cool things with home automation. If you had a choice would you really CHOOSE to have an open mic to Amazon or Google? If you had a choice would you really let them watch what is happening at or in your home?
Support Live Free or Die Software, and help us give you options that will give you Home Automation NOT Home Invasion.
