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A comment on Google's fact-checking bots build vast knowledge bank. Parent comment

Re:Google's fact-checking bots build vast knowledge bank by icehawk219 on Friday August 22, 2014 @12:45PM (#8212838)
It most certainly is not your data. It's on their servers, in their apps, and running through their network. They decide what they do it with, how long they keep it, and whether or not you even have access to it. Comparing them to the post office doesn't really make sense either considering that's a public service, and one a depressingly large number of people want to get rid of. Google is a for profit company and their data is how they make money.

If you don't like that reality then don't use their service. It really is that simple.

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Re:Google's fact-checking bots build vast knowledge bank by specialist on Saturday August 23, 2014 @01:02PM (#8216247)
Nope. My data is me. The totality of my data is literally my identity. If you know everything about me, you can steal my identity and assume my living role.

I don't like the reality of the US War Machine killing innocents simply to enrich crony war profiteers. By your reasoning, I should stop paying taxes too.

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Re:Google's fact-checking bots build vast knowledge bank by jacquesm on Saturday August 23, 2014 @01:41PM (#8216345)
> By your reasoning, I should stop paying taxes too.

You can. Depending on how principled you are about thing like this. You'd still need to give up your American citizenship otherwise it doesn't matter where you live on the planet.

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Re:Google's fact-checking bots build vast knowledge bank by jahewson on Friday August 22, 2014 @01:03PM (#8212910)
I'm unconvinced: what about UPS? They're not a public service and are a for-profit company.
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Re:Google's fact-checking bots build vast knowledge bank by Someone on Friday August 22, 2014 @01:20PM (#8213003)
You can phrase that even stronger. In many countries, the post office is privatized. Examples:

http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deutsche_Post

http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/KPN

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[deleted]
Re:Google's fact-checking bots build vast knowledge bank by magicalist on Friday August 22, 2014 @01:29PM (#8213043)
No it doesn't. That privacy policy is pretty clear that they won't share personal information without my consent, and I'm quite certain a court would agree.
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Re:Google's fact-checking bots build vast knowledge bank by Qantourisc on Friday August 22, 2014 @04:27PM (#8213779)
Sure it make sense. The post office could do the same nasty things with your mail. But they don't, even though they could. It's not because you can you should.
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Re:Google's fact-checking bots build vast knowledge bank by waterlesscloud on Friday August 22, 2014 @05:28PM (#8214050)
If I leave some loose hairs on an airline seat, does the airline now own my dna?
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Re:Google's fact-checking bots build vast knowledge bank by TeMPOraL on Saturday August 23, 2014 @07:37AM (#8215562)
The very concept of "owning data" is nonsense, as your example clearly shows.
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Re:Google's fact-checking bots build vast knowledge bank by ghshephard on Friday August 22, 2014 @05:43PM (#8214100)
They certainly can scan it if you leave it behind.
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Re:Google's fact-checking bots build vast knowledge bank by gtremper on Friday August 22, 2014 @06:51PM (#8214305)
No, but they have access to it.
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Re:Google's fact-checking bots build vast knowledge bank by judk on Saturday August 23, 2014 @02:11PM (#8216431)
The USPS is only partially public. It is mostly a private company with a government influenced charter, which is the same basic structure as every corporation.
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