Google’s practice of embedding cookies via Apple’s Safari browser is a violation that should be condemned. http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-google-tracking-20120218,0,1621176.stor...>
Not only does it break the “contract” between Apple and its Safari users, it blows to pieces Google’s promises made to the Federal Trade Commission that "bars the company from future privacy misrepresentations."
How might the government entity punish Google? According to the Los Angeles Times, “if Google is found to have violated its agreement with the FTC, the company could face fines of up to $16,000 per day for each violation.”
Wow, $16,000 should get Google’s attention. It likely pays more than that daily for lunches in its cafeteria.
Now to the question of whether Web users care about their privacy. I use Safari on multiple devices and do feel “violated”. But will I change browsers because of this or operate under the assumption that the next browser I use will invade my space as well?
That decision has yet to be made.
In my upcoming Mobilized Marketing book jeffhasen, Thom Kennon, senior vice president and director of strategy at Y&R, tells me that “privacy is delusional.”
More from Kennon in Mobilized Marketing:
“I don’t think for the last 70 or 80 years of consumerism have we enjoyed this Pollyannaish view of what privacy and data protection we were going to have. I don’t believe even aspirationally that it’s attainable.”
This privacy issue will go on long after you can read Kennon’s full comments May 1 when the book is released.
