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  • HillTop1HillTop1

    Update from google about google drive privacy

    Update: Google just sent us the following statement to clarify its terms of service:

    As our Terms of Service make clear, "what belongs to you stays yours." You own your files and control their sharing, plain and simple. Our Terms of Service enable us to give you the services you want — so if you decide to share a document with someone, or open it on a different device, you can.

    Looking at some of Google's competitors, it's clear that they need the exact same permissions — they just use slightly more artful language to communicate them.

    http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/technology/cloud-wars-how-google-drives-privacy-policy-stack-up-against-its-rivals/2012/04/26/gIQAXaQ2iT_story_1.html

  • John_FarragutJohn_Farragut

    Thing is, terms of service should be clear. You cannot say, well the terms of service makes it look like... but we (Google) say it isn't so. It should be written clear.

    Even Apple's language wasn't clear with iBooks Author, letting some to believe if you publish content with iBooks Author, then you aren't allowed to publish that content anywhere else. But what Apple meant was, if you use iBooks Author, the output of the app may only be used for the iBooks Store, the content stays yours to do with what you want elsewhere.

    So clear language is a must.

  • brianlucebrianluce

    I don't get it, Google's TOS looked explicit enough to me. How can they now say "We didn't mean it"?

  • OedipaxOedipax

    Because it's massively unpopular :)

  • ghkqnghkqn

    It is probably not obvious to most, but data kept on all cloud services, G-Drive or iCloud, can be accessed legally and monitored by appropriate government agencies for security reasons, and this is equally true in the US as well as within the European Union.

  • luxisluxis

    http://diasporaproject.org/ Steep learning curve involved(for now) but a good alternative to the evil services ; ) other possibilities: make your own site on paid hosting service. Some of them are very robust as far as hacker attacks etc. and if you are a little paranoid go on and encrypt your files.

    @pdlumina "time to encrypt and password-protect uploaded files.WHERE IS YOUR DATA NOW Google" - YES!

    set up your own (linux based)server: needs to be always on(maybe a solar panel soultion, ssd, lower consumption system) to be accessible obviously and you do need to know how to protect yourself well from intrusions otherwise it could be a riskier then the anonymous context of a cloud. Of course there is still the ISP so things are relative. some maybe useful links on the (broader)subject:

    http://www.wired.com/threatlevel/2010/08/nsl-gag-order-lifted/

    http://www.geekosystem.com/privacy-first-isp/ good old wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Internet_privacy

    http://www.nytimes.com/2012/05/03/technology/personaltech/how-to-muddy-your-tracks-on-the-internet.html

    http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/04/26/cispa-cybersecurity-bill-privacy-sopa_n_1455921.html

    http://www.privacyrights.org/

    etc, etc.

  • itimjimitimjim

    Ok, in my very real pragmatic life.

    1. What's the risk of my stuff being compromised? Very low
    2. What's the risk of any of my stuff compromising me as an individual if it were compromised? Low to non-existent
    3. If it was compromising, how badly could it effect my life? Potential identity/financial theft, and I'm insured against it.

    So, in reality, could I give a shit about Google's, Microsoft's, Apple's etc....... Terms of Service and the way they can be read into? Do I have enough time in my day to worry about the very small, almost non-existent amount of exposure being online can be? No.

    But. If I worked for the FBI, the CIA, MI5 or 6, would I use these services for my stuff? Do many of us have stuff that is actually that sensitive, both to ourselves or those around us?

    As content creators, then yes, if I've just rendered out a 4k edit of my $189m masterpiece, I'm hardly going to upload it to Google Drive. For the rest of us? It's just fine.

  • luxisluxis

    Its a mater of principles not a matter of content and a general direction of technology now days. Your stuff should be your stuff until You decide to share it. Just because you give me service doesn't mean i need to trade my identity for it and you own me. If this rule is neglected worse things are gonna come for sure in the long term. Your communications, relations, choices in whatever and files for this matter are not and should never be a product to be sold and traded around if you are not down with it. The classical example would be an insurance company gets a hint about your medical history and the consequent actions for your policy.

    Also your exposure on line is far greater that is thought to be.

    Btw, recently vimeo had issues with hidden private files showing up in searches which could be very annoying if for example a client of yours sees a video of work in progress meant only for him/her, that is not to be published - still showing. This was most likely a matter of technical glitch but just to show you that it doesn't need to be the Hollywood feature that you just finished being compromised and still matter.

  • jamjam

    You can always use true crypt for your files if you are concerned.

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