Tuesday, December 2, 2008

New Privacy Group Co-Chair Blasts Google In Op-Ed

Will Google soon be joining the recently launched Future of Privacy Forum -- an AT&T-funded initiative intended to advance a national privacy agenda that promotes transparency and user control and is practical for businesses? Probably not… unless Christopher Wolf, a longtime attorney for AT&T and co-chair of the forum rolls back his contempt for the Web firm, which was recently exhibited in a Bangkok Post op-ed.

In Wolf's weekend column ominously titled "Google Is Watching You," the Proskauer Rose partner writes: "There is no doubt that the Internet search giant has helped people around the world access useful information. But what if Google's technology was used to keep track of you -- your whereabouts and your activities and records were kept of where you have been? That would be a little worrisome to say the least. And yet that may well be happening."

Wolf explains that Google, which has gone a long way to bolster its privacy protections, has developed a "geolocation" application for mobile and wireless devices "designed to let restaurants, salons, malls and other businesses and interested parties advertise to you while you are on the move." "This raises a host of concerns about privacy and safeguarding personal information," he writes, noting that the company already scans and stores "mind-boggling" amounts of data about its users.

Google, he concludes, could "take some steps to set users' minds at ease" and says it would be wise for the company to follow the example of his client, AT&T, as well as other communications firms like Time-Warner Cable and Verizon. They recently told the U.S. government that any new technologies they develop will provide full disclosure to consumers about how their data are used and would give users the ability to opt out of having their personal information used in a way they do not approve.