Google Breaking EU Data Protection Laws also?

The BBC is running a story about the possibility that Google could be breaking EU privacy laws. This is hot on the tail after I queeried their compliance with EU privacy laws because they could be storing UK search data outside of the EU.

The Article 29 Group which is made up of European Data protection commissioners has writen to Google explaining the EU law and how it affects Google. Google's response has annoyed me. The BBC quoted Peter Fleischer, Google's global privacy counsel as saying:

"We believe it's an important part of our commitment to respect user privacy while balancing a number of important factors, such as maintaining security and preventing fraud and abuse."

So is he saying that their own business needs and convinience supercedes EU law?

Google has so far stated that they intend to "anonymise" search data that is 18-24 months old. At the moment it is believe they keep track of people's IP address, search term and browser type.

What I'd love to know, however, does the Article 29 group see the storing of data such as the contents of emails against individual's login information in nations outside of the EU and largely beyond EU statutes being of concern?

Furthermore, what protection do I have as a Gmail or Google Calendar user that my information is safe and secure when it comes to Google's own security messures? Is there any minimum standard of security features that we can expect just as we do with online banks?

This is just part of the topic I started when I posted recently and asked the question "How far will Google go to rank results".

With so much of the internet relying on Google, consumers will need to feel that they're taking Google Accounts and Google data security seriously. By hindering the application of EU and UK data protection legislation can only harm their reputation to consumers, advertisers and the financial markets.

How To Fight Spam

I used to get shed loads of spam because in the golden olden days when you could leave your email address on forums and newsgroups but now everyone is scared squitless about doing it.

The upshot of my previous marketing activities meant that I was getting hundreds of spam emails a day. After a mate has just asked me how I get no spam through now, I thought I'd mention who I use (and yes they do have an affiliate programme).

Basically Spam Arrest challenges unknown email addresses and asks them to verify they're human. I've got the choice to automatically reject or accept specific email addresses as well as monitor how much spam I'm getting.

Another good point is that is that if you've got loads of different email addresses you can get them all checked and pushed through via one pop account. Basically it makes life so much easier.

Also if you've got business email addresses that don't have webmail access you can still get into them when you're out and about.

Genius I say!

How Far Will Google Go To Rank Results?

With personalised search a new layer of complexity has been added to getting your site to rank well and also raises a whole host of data protection issues.

Google personalised search goes back to what I've been saying for the past three / four years - that Google is focusing on immediacy and may have taken their eye of relevancy. But now it's gone full circle and they're using the full range of information they have to try and get the relevancy issue sorted again.

For the past few years they've been trying to guess exactly what you're looking for in terms of are you in the buying or information retrieval frame of mind.

If you take a search for "marketing jobs warrington" you get the GBase stuff which tries to get you to those jobs as quickly as possible:


If you do a search for "Sony Vaio" you get Google products search results - because it thinks you're in a buying mood:


But to cover themselves, they've also added deeplinks into content on the Sony site - they've correctly matched the search term to the relevant authority site.

Now if you take a search term that they've twigged that most people are actually looking for a picture about - they give you some image search results at the top of the web search results:


Now, if you're looking at a purely informational search say for "diarrhea" (I hope you're not looking for images of it!) they've nicely categorised the possible nature of your search:


So we know that Google uses their vast array of search data and then categorises your search task (find information, find images, find products etc) and then applies that set of beliefs to your historical search pattern.

But where else can they get more information to refine YOUR serps?

If you use a personalised Google Homepage or Google Feed Reader will they look at what feeds you've included?

Would they go far as to read the nature of your Google Mails (as they do to serve relevant ads)? If you get loads of email announcements from Gadget shops will they think you want to see gadget shops ahead of information ones?

If you've got a loads of sporting events in your Google Calendar will they use that to refine your search results?

Some people use Google Notebooks, if you tag pages will they be moved up your own search results?

You could even go as far as what you've seen on Google Video & You Tube, which Newsgroups you're subscribed to etc.

What makes it more "interesting" is that they could read your Google Docs (I use them a lot for planning and client interaction) and even what's on your desktop (using Desktop search).

If you use Google Page Creator, will your search results be refined by the pages you create?

How far will they go and how far do we want them to go? I have no problem with them using certain amounts of data to provide me with more relevant results. But each individual should be able to opt out of each source.

Some people don't even know their Google Mail is scanned for themes and some people trust Google not to miss-use the data. However, there are some that are concerned that any amount of individually identifiable data that is transmitted across borders is illegal which form the 8th Principle of the Data Protection Act:

Personal data shall not be transferred to a country or territory outside the European Economic Area unless that country or territory ensures an adequate level of protection for the rights and freedoms of data subjects in relation to the processing of personal data.

from my knowledge the USA isn't one of those nations that complies - is our personally identifiable information crossing borders without our knowledge?

It's the second principle that worries me, however:

Personal data shall be obtained only for one or more specified and lawful purposes, and shall not be further processed in any manner incompatible with that purpose or those purposes.

Are people totally aware that their search results are being used to refine searches or that other people logged in could in effect change their search results? Then you get into the areas of Google docs, desktop, notebooks information being used to sort results. There could be addresses, telephone numbers and gawd knows what in there.

I really hope that Google address these concerns that I expect many others have, because any "big brother" connection could seriously harm people's perception and use of Google.

Initial City Link Are Crap - Merchants Please don't use!

I ordered a new laptop to be delivered by 17:30 at my client's address and it never turned up. I tried calling and got disconnected. Then tried again at 18:00 because they say that they're open until 19:00 but they're closed so I try leaving a message but can't because their mailbox is full.

How many times do I have to chuffing complain about how crap the last people in the ecommerce chain are but we're always let down?!?!

So can I please ask any merchant not to use Initial City Link because, I personally, always have problems with them!

Apparently they've won the "UK Courier Company of 2007" - somehow!

Update: I'd appreciate if anyone could leave some feedback on Parcel Monkey - as they offer some un-naturally cheap courier prices!

Strange Character in Google SERP URL

Has anyone seen anything like this before?



Notice the first result and the url in green - very strange!

The exact search url is this.

Leave me a voice comment!

I love my gadgets and widgets. I've found a new one where people can leave voice comments on this blog. They're default to private but if people want to make comments open to the public then I'll do that.

I'm notoriously hard to get hold of, so if you've got an out-dated mobile number for me then try this.

Er - the link is here.