10 Comments

Yet another creepy Google Technology

June 12, 2006 by in Privacy,Tech with 10 Comments

google-talk.jpg

Now this is from the OFFICIAL Google weblog.

Google is developing a system that uses a microphone on your PC to listen to what you are watching on a TV, so long as it’s in the same room. Based upon what it hears, this system will figure out what you’re watching in order to deliver more highly targeted advertising content.

To quote the search giant:

The system could keep up with users while they channel surf, presenting them with a real-time forum about a live political debate one minute and an ad-hoc chat room for a sporting event in the next. And, all of this would be done without users ever having to type or to even know the name of the program or channel being viewed.

Frankly, why do we trust ANYTHING put out by any manufacturer? If the green light on your iSight isn’t on how do you know it still isn’t recording? Do some of these free web toolbars record keystrokes and audio and transmit it back to somewhere? I have a TCP/IP sniffer that alerts me to any traffic that flows over my network to make sure my programs stay honest. However, how long will the public be complacent and companies such as Google could sneak technology onto your PC’s?

All I know is there there is some electric tape going over my iSight in my MacBook. This of course is very controversial based upon what other people are saying, so what do you think?


  • http://www.fuckedsuit.com garraeth

    And I bet 99% of the non-techies out there wouldn’t even think (or know how) about unplugging or disabling their mic…scary tech

  • chadillac

    I’ll pass

  • Dan

    What the heck? Nothing out of the ordinary, after all Google’s CEO did say they wanted to “know everything” about you.

    This ought to be a BIG help…

    To Google of course…

  • http://www.ronaldpoi.com/ Ronald Poi

    I’d never put any kind of tape over my iSight… but i’m trying to know how to turn off the little green light in order to make hidden videos ;)

  • http://www.xbandx.com/ jason

    cuecuat tried this style of advertising years ago and failed..when are companies going to realize we dont want to automatically have ads displayed?

  • http://www.mgroves.com boohiss

    “when are companies going to realize we dont want to automatically have ads displayed?”

    I don’t want commercials in my TV shows either…but how else are they going to pay for the content?

  • Jace

    CueCat was a bit different in that it required user interaction. I like the idea of this which doesn’t seem to be solely based on ad revenue. And, like other things, there will be ways to disable it.

  • Big Brother Is Watching Me?

    Isn’t this a bit alarmist? A new application that would allow the less than tech-savvy to find internet content relating to their TV viewing *immediately* turns into cries that corporations are constantly trying to destroy our privacy?

    From the brief paragraph description of the program given, it does not seem to suggest that Google will be forcing this technology down anyones throats. Furthermore, any reasonable person who puts any amount of thought into what the program is actually doing would realize that A) it is recording any and all sound in the room, B) it is transmitting that audio data off into the wild blue internet to who knows where in order for it to be processed in some unknown manner, and C) targeted internet content is then sent back to you.

    Clearly the possibility for Google to amass some archive of what’s been going on in your living room when your computer is on exists, but apparently that is the purpose of the program in the first place, in order to return a highly personalized experience (which is impossible without giving up a corresponding amount of privacy).

    I fail to see where the perceived maliciousness comes into play at all.

  • http://www.xbandx.com/ jason

    http://www.theregister.co.uk/2000/09/26/cuecat_profiling_potential_described/

    “The CueCat software then listens for signals encoded within the audio of television programmes”

    When I mean automatically displayed, I mean when I’m done watching my TV program, I dont wnat to come to my computer and see that there are a bunch of pop ups..

  • Theropod

    So much for “You can make money without doing evil.”

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