In the readings given on Google this week, there were several new terms in which I have never heard before and also the concepts of these new terms have intrigued me. Below is a term that caught my attention and I have done my best to relay what it means by way of paraphrasing the author’s explanation.

‘Privacy‘ – A broad term regarding several interpretations with not much customization.

•      “representing a desire to withhold information about personal conduct” (pg 93).
•      “the terms of control over information, not the nature of the information [shared]” (pg 93).

I also have ironically taken into account Googling the definition:

“the state or condition of being free from being observed or disturbed by other people”

or

“the state of being free from public attention”

The author states that we “demand some sort of control over our reputations” and that “privacy refers to the terms of control over information, not the nature of information we share.” I think these are important statements to consider when the issue of privacy comes into play with social media and search engines, namely Google. Especially with such social media like Facebook exposing our desires from the Beacon program and Google taking into account accessing things we have looked up and using that information trying to read our minds for the future. The latter quote puts into perspective the argument I think most users that take issue with things like the Beacon program are trying to make. When combated with the idea that they are already willingly exposing themselves via the social media, it is important to highlight that all users want is control over what they share.

Would you agree that this is most important issue around privacy? That it isn’t necessarily the content being shared but the fact that you are not the one sharing the content? Why do people care so much that this type of information is getting taken from them, isn’t it kind of convenient that they are just trying to anticipate what we want? Almost like a good server anticipating the needs of the guest to please them. We like those scenarios, when people seem to know what we want. So what is our issue with technology doing so?