function hide_user_promo_bubble_second_stage() { var bubble = $("user_promo_bubble"); bubble.style.display = "none"; } function hide_user_promo_bubble() { var bubble = $("user_promo_bubble"); var myAnim = new YAHOO.util.Anim(bubble, { opacity: { to: 0 } }, 1, YAHOO.util.Easing.easeOut); myAnim.animate(); setTimeout("hide_user_promo_bubble_second_stage()", 1100); } function handle_promo_username(params) { var bubble = $("user_promo_bubble"); var img = $("user_promo_bubble_image"); var anchor = $("user_promo_bubble_link"); if (params.has_photo == "true") { img.src = "http://images.huffingtonpost.com/profiles/" + params.user_id + "-tiny.png"; } else { img.style.display = "none"; Dom.addClass(anchor, "wide"); } anchor.innerHTML = "Shared by " + params.user_name; anchor.href = "http://www.huffingtonpost.com/social/" + params.user_name; bubble.style.display = "block"; var myAnim = new YAHOO.util.Anim(bubble, { opacity: { to: 1 } }, 2, YAHOO.util.Easing.easeOut); myAnim.animate(); } if (HuffPoUtil.getUrlVar("user_promo")) { YAHOO.util.Event.onDOMReady(function() { var parts = document.location.hash.split(","), shared_by = "", badge = "", i; if (parts.length < 2) return; for (i = 0; i < parts.length; i++) { if (parts[i].indexOf("sb=") !== -1) { shared_by = parts[i]; } if (parts[i].indexOf("b=") !== -1) { badge = parts[i]; } } if (shared_by == "" || badge == "") return; var bubble = $("user_promo_bubble"); if (!bubble) return; var entry_id = HuffPoUtil.GetEntryID(); if (!entry_id) return; var user_id = parseInt(shared_by.substr(shared_by.indexOf("sb=") + 3)); if (!user_id) return; var badge_type = badge.substr(badge.indexOf("b=") + 2); if (!badge_type) return; script = document.createElement("script"); script.setAttribute("type", "text/javascript"); bubble.appendChild(script); script.setAttribute("src", "/include/share_track.php?a=view&eid=" + entry_id + "&uid=" + user_id + "&b=" + badge_type + "&cb=handle_promo_username"); }); } Google CEO On Privacy (VIDEO): 'If You Have Something You Don't Want Anyone To Know, Maybe You Shouldn't Be Doing It'

Yahoo, Verizon, Sprint, and others have recently come under fire for sharing customer data with the authorities, and admitting to "spying" abilities that would "shock" and "confuse" customers.

A CNBC interview with Google CEO Eric Schmidt suggests the search giant Google shouldn't get off easy, and users should be wary of what Google knows about them -- and with whom they can share that information.

CNBC's Mario Bartiromo asked CEO Schmidt in her December 3, 2009 interview: "People are treating Google like their most trusted friend. Should they?"

Schmidt's reply hints that if there's scandalous information out there about you, it's your problem, not Google's.

Schmidt tells Baritoromo:

If you have something that you don't want anyone to know, maybe you shouldn't be doing it in the first place.

He expands on his answer, adding that the your information could be made available not only to curious searchers or prying friends, but also to the authorities, and that there's little recourse for people worried about unintentionally "oversharing" online:

But if you really need that kind of privacy, the reality is that search engines, including Google, do retain this information for some time. And [...] we're all subject, in the US, to the Patriot Act, and it is possible that that information could be made available to the authorities.

Leaked documents revealing Yahoo's guide for law enforcement officials, which explains how they can obtain consumer data, highlights the type of information internet companies may have about their users -- and can share with the authorities.

Story continues below

Silicon Alley Insider notes,

For example, Yahoo's document helpfully alerts law enforcement that if they'd like to read a user's instant messanger logs, they better ask within 45 days and come bearing a 2703(d) order. That is, unless there's "imminent danger of death or serious physical injury." If that's the case, there's another letter to fax entirely

See a video clip of Schmidt's below.

WATCH:

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Comments

[Curtis Neeley]

I have filed a Federal lawsuit in the Western District Court of Arkansas and they filed a response that only the Government needs to worry about privacy.

Game over Eric. You lose and Google Books will not redefine copyright law. Just google my name and copyright law suit to find 5:09-cv-05151.

I prefer you to use Ask.com when you google for it since Google, Yahoo, and Bing will all be defendants for violating my copyrights to nude photographs.

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[ESLundo]

Privacy is (was) the first casualty of the rush to the digital world. Trying to patch up this flaw now is too late. Anyways, unless these private companies want to see some gov't intervention, they really need to clearly state and adhere to their privacy policies which often are difficult to find on their web sites. I wrote a novel about privacy in the digital world, Red's Query, and in the research I read through a lot of privacy policies and found them very fungible in interpretation.

[Curtis Neeley]

Privacy and copyrights were casualties of the rush to digitize, but they are not fatalities. There will be intervention by the Courts and I suppose that IS government intervention after all. Privacy and copyrights are wounded but the wounds are NOT fatalities. Stay tuned to my case. 5:09-cv-05151

[NomeWes]

Big mozilla firefox browser guys tells people to switch their default search to Bing from Google: http://mashable.com/2009/12/11/mozilla-leave-google/

[i4hope]

Google CEO Eric Schmidt's comment--"If you have something that you don't want anyone to know, maybe you shouldn't be doing it in the first place."--seems to equate private acts to illegal acts. However, that is not true because privacy is part of human decency and its violation can dehumanize people and strip of their dignity. For example, searching for divorce lawyers, alcoholic anonymous, spousal abuse, cancer treatments, drug addiction or unemployment benefits is none of other people's business.

[Nicholas Barry]

I planted a microphone in Eric Schmidt's bedroom (it's broadcasting live on my blog). I'm sure he won't mind, as he surely isn't doing anything he wouldn't want anyone to know about.

[nubret2008]

You really have to ask yourself this question: Whom do I trust more? BigBrother Google or hegemonial Microsoft/Newscorp? Where are the teabaggers on this issue???

[nubret2008]

Aight, no christmas presents for the kids. If I don't want them to know what they might get I just won't buy anything. Thanks Mr. Google for a cheap x-mas....

[JR Jake]

Three letters Eric 'GTH'

[OldHick]

EVery application of Google is suspect. Google Wave is a neat idea and it will attract people to use it - as designed, but again, if they record everything Google is amassing vast amounts of information, and it is linked to all the people who use this. This could catch terrorists, but it also can allow others to find out whatever you are doing or have done. THis is recorded, and could be used against you. The Chinese, for example could buy information from Google, and blackball people here they do not like.

Until Google addresses privacy issues I would stqay away, no matter how attractive they make their products appear. It is a trojan horse.

[PenguinLinux]

Just wait until Google Chrome OS hits for netbooks.....

[OldHick]

There is no telling what Google may or is using all this information for. They are definately using it for markeing purposes, but the culture at Google is global, and many of the people are from foreign countries. They do not recognize the rights of US citizens. Herr Schmidt reminds me of the NAZI's that told people that "if you have nothing to hide, you have nothing to be afraid of".

Just think of all the ways Google might use this information, and who would know? There are driving competion into similar practices. This is dangerous. They could blackmail people, pry into anyone's life. There is no excuse for retaining all search information people enter, regardless of whether or not they are logged into Google.

This is unamerican, and their practices should be stopped.

[Tierra]

1984

[PenguinLinux]

For all of the concern about privacy, while you are right to be concerned about Google and the Internet in general, no one on here has given any thought to their operating system on their computer. Both Mac OSX (Apple, Inc) and Windows (Microsoft), are closed-source, proprietary systems that will not let you see 100% of the code. There's very limited access and no transparency like there is with GNU/Linux.

No operating system is perfect and none are 100% secure, but some are much more-so than others because of their philosophy of design and the the implementation of it.

If you are running Windows or Mac OS X, you may wish to start there with your concerns about privacy.

[vedicupvan]

AUM.
Of late GOOGLE has come in for criticism for being not as accurate as they are expected to be. If you type your name in the search column, your works are listed and along side some fellows who have names sounding like yours but not similar to yours, are also listed. This indeed is an error that they have not been able to correct despite complaints lodged with them. Is it carelessness or lack of experise? GOOGLE CEO may please look into it.
In a book entitled "WE MUST HAVE NO PRICE", the writer Arun Shourie has published two GOOGLE maps of India-China border in the east. The map visible in China shows Arunachal Pradesh(Indian territory) as a part of China and the same Google showing the same area to viewers in India shows it as a part of India. Isn't it robbing Peter to pay Paul and vice-versa depending where you are located.
Ungentlemanly indeed and does not behove Google.
Will the CEO have it rectified please.
Contact yahoo.comahoo.com

[st0ked]

If "they" find anything "they" don't approve of , they are welcome to kiss my ___. That's what. I don't need anyone to approve me . It is the "fear" card . Well , I'm not afraid of them . Or us . I hope only to live long enough to p i s s upon a certain former vp's grave . It ought to be right next to Benedict Arnold's.