Google’s become an obsessive stalker

Re:Google’s become an obsessive stalker by Udo on Wednesday September 14, 2016 @11:12AM (#12497736)

For a good laugh, hunt down the "Your interests" / ad preferences page while logged in to Google. Out of the 18 things Google believes I'm interested in, maybe 4 sort-of fit, the other ones were mostly stuff I'm pretty sure I never even searched for once.

I'm not sure if Google's staggering incompetence in all things user-facing is a pro or a con, though. On the one hand, you could make the Stasi argument and say that people just think the company actually has meaningful information on them - but on the other hand it clearly has the potential of being even more dangerous, especially considering the fact that Google data is presumably being funneled straight into governmental intelligence as well.

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Google’s become an obsessive stalker by randomnerdiness on Wednesday September 14, 2016 @11:21AM (#12497834)

Exactly. Currently, it doesn't bother me, since the 'your data' and 'your interests' and such for me are so random and sporadic.

Of course, I also don't walk around with everything turned on, checking in at every location, posting reviews about everything. I just conserve my battery life and use GPS only on the rare event I need to do a long distance trip or have to find someplace especially tricky.

Maybe it is different for the English?

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Google’s become an obsessive stalker by RodericDay on Wednesday September 14, 2016 @11:35AM (#12498001)

Slavoj Zizek had a great talk with a talk show host from the Netherlands precisely about this matter.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PIPjmmmh_os

Fun watch imo. There's also another session between them two.

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Google’s become an obsessive stalker by dredmorbius on Wednesday September 14, 2016 @11:56AM (#12498239)

An 80-minute talk. Zizek tends to wander a bit:

Slavoj Žižek + Paul Holdengräber "Surveillance and whistleblowers" - International Authors' Stage Det Kongelige Bibliotek 71,767 views

Published on May 19, 2014

I'M WATCHING YOU PART 1 - part 2: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HAZiFWZpYds

4:48 Danish pornography

5:40 There is no harmony in the univers

8:44 David Lynch and the crawling excess of life

11:17 God underestimated us

19:40 Why do people read Stephen Hawking?

21:14 Surveillance and whistleblowers

22:40 The most dangerous freedom

30:40 The necessity of vulgar humor

35:24 The public persona

37:45 The connection between Pussy Riot and Snowden

41:58 Never allow intellectuals in power

47:30 Julian Assange, a spy for the people

53:46 There are only two different kinds of persons in the world

56:38 Right wing wisdom

57:39 People only want the appearance of freedom

1:01:51 The complicity of liberal tolerant capitalism

1:07:42 The European dream

1:13:50 Unjustified paranoia

The Slovenian star philosopher Slavoj Žižek in the first of two conversations on surveillance with the popular and charismatic interviewer Paul Holdengräber, director of Public Programs at the New York Public Library.

The Black Diamond, The Royal Library, Copenhagen 18 May 2014

Video: http://www.videoakademiet.dk

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Google’s become an obsessive stalker by no_flags on Wednesday September 14, 2016 @12:48PM (#12498836)

Just looked after reading your comment and it's actually pretty accurate for me.

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Google’s become an obsessive stalker by VOYD on Wednesday September 14, 2016 @11:51AM (#12498186)

or maybe they aren't telling you exactly what they think of you just yet.

[ Parent | on HN ]