Google+ Identity Crisis: What’s at Stake With Real Names and Privacy

[JMH]

Google+ Identity Crisis: What’s at Stake With Real Names and Privacy

After a steady stream of angry blog posts and heated debate among its own users over the value of pseudonymity on the web, Google announced Monday that it was revising its “real name” policy, at least for display, on Google+.

In a post on Google+, Google VP Bradley Horowitz promised greater transparency, particularly in suspension of user profiles. The new algorithm — human as well as computational — offers users a chance to correct their profiles before suspension. In the past week, most banned profiles simply disappeared without warning.

The great Google+ profile purge began last week with business and media company profiles: ABC News Radio, Sesame Street, Wired. This wasn’t a surprise: Google had stated that it wanted to limit the social network to individuals until it could set up special pages for businesses.

Google+ Identity Crisis: What’s at Stake With Real Names and Privacy | Epicenter*| Wired.com

 

[Dave76]

Like a lot of things these days, you see something new and hope it will be everything you want it to be.
It ends up being everything somebody else wants.

For basic personal security g+ goes against everything we've been taught, we should have the choice to publish only the information we choose.

Looks like that choice will involve a delete button.

 

[vaioseven]

I'm of the mind that it's too little too late. Not to be negative, but the slap of reality hits, when any large scale enterprise is involved. I am neither a Google supporter or detractor. It is what it is.

I do know that using DuckDuckGo is very beneficial. They do not track IP addresses, or where you browse. I am _not_ affiliated with them, just a user that's happy I was referred to their site.

 

[mr pc]

The push to relinquish individuals of their privacy to use their information against them secretly is a growing paradox in the business of social media.

Facebook feels the same way - anonymity leads to bullying is their excuse, but behind closed doors it means less revenue for data mining.

What defines bullying? Trolling? (Protected) Hate Speech? Junkmail? Exploiting peoples personal information?

Should we hold Social Media sites complicit for failing to protect users from bullies?

We are seeing a greater push against anonymity alongside the growth of the "cloud"
Who does this benefit ultimately? People not only trusting their data, but their personal information so openly is bad enough already.

Think about this - as internet usage becomes a greater part of society, users are inevitably becoming younger. Do parents want all their children's info out in the open for anyone to see?

These are all steps backward for privacy, security, and freedom of speech on the internet.

 

[IMAyNeed]

CNet Reports: Rep. Zoe Lofgren of California, said, "'It represents a data bank of every digital act by every American' that would 'let us find out where every single American visited Web sites.'"

 

[Dave76]

:shock:

It's Big Brother.....

'We are doing this to help and protect you, just give us all your information, now".......... time to run away.

 

[seekermeister]

Personally, I don't use G+, Facebook or anything like those. I see no point, since their primary purpose is nothing more than product promotion.

 

[smiths22]

facebook is doing the same, they are asking for your true cell phone number.

 

[vaioseven]

facebook is doing the same, they are asking for your true cell phone number.

Precisely, there is no privacy.

Any time a computer is connected to the web, privacy is but a myth.

All one has to do, is read the various EULA / TOS / and boilerplate to reveal the truth.

It is, what it is.

 

[smiths22]

facebook is doing the same, they are asking for your true cell phone number.

Precisely, there is no privacy.

Any time a computer is connected to the web, privacy is but a myth.

All one has to do, is read the various EULA / TOS / and boilerplate to reveal the truth.

It is, what it is.

In fact since today they have a new requirement to validate your account:

I want facebook to call to my phone!


I don't think so faceshi#%, well at the end i did it.