Privacy Paranoia – Give Google Latitude a Break

February 10th, 2009

Ever since Google launched Latitude, a new service that allows you to use your mobile phone or computer to interact and see where your friends and family are on a Google map, an explosion of privacy hype seems to have erupted in the media.

Here’s some examples: Computer World, CTV.ca, DesignNews, M&C, PC World (#2), BBC News (UK), Times Online, PC World, Guardian (UK), etc.

A majority of these articles all reference the warning set by privacy watchdog Privacy International. Privacy International provides five potential scenarios where Google Latitude can be used for evil:

  1. An employer provides staff with Latitude-enabled phones on which a reciprocal sharing agreement has been enabled, but does not inform staff of this action or that their movements will be tracked.
  2. A parent gifts a mobile phone to a child without disclosing that the phone has been Latitude-enabled.
  3. A partner, friend or other person gains access to an unattended phone (left on a bar on in the house) and enables Latitude without the other person’s knowledge.
  4. A Latitude-enabled phone is given as a gift.
  5. A phone left unattended, for example with security personnel or a repair shop, is covertly enabled. (PrivacyInternational.org)

I was a bit relieved to see a few articles where people actually give Google a break. See articles by Michael Zimmer and Information Week.

Yes, Google Latitude does enable you to share lots of personal information, but does so by satisfying basic opt-in consent requirements such as those embodied in UK’s Data Protection Act and the 10 principles of PIPEDA.

It seems that Google is very aware of the privacy implications of Latitude, having protection built into its core (see the blog post, YouTube video, and privacy section of Google Latitude’s FAQ).

Despite the privacy hype, you won’t find me using this on my BlackBerry — I neither need nor want friends and family to know when I’m in their proximity. If I want to meet someone, I’ll send an email or make a call.

WHAT DO YOU THINK?
Share your thoughts with the rest of the community.
  Read our Comment Policy