Google to 'listen in' on your PC Mic. Is this an invasion of privacy?

Question

In the news recently, is see that Google are planning to use the microphones on home PC's to 'listen' to background chatter, and target you with instant advertising based on key-words it picks up.

Google are planning to use the microphones on home PC's to 'listen' to background chatter, and target you with instant advertising based on key-words it picks up.

More info on it here: http://www.theregister.co.uk/2006/09/03/google_eavesdropping_software/

Do you think this is taking away people's privacy?

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Answer 1

Interesting find. It would generally be considered an invasion of privacy, but they'll stick something in small type in the End-User License Agreement which will cover them.

There's a quick and easy way to solve this...don't use the new Google software.

Answer 2

Why ask why she posted twice? And why don't you have a user name !? That's more to the point!!! Are you a spy for Yahoo!? How do you get away without using a name? A hacker maybe? If you don't want to answer the question, keep quiet. Maybe she thought the question fitted two categories. Who knows?

To answer the question, yes it is an invasion, and I think more people should be aware of this kind of thing. Thanks for the info. I use Google, but will be thinking of removing it now.

Answer 3

Thanks for the information. If this is factual Big Brother will have made another giant step.
In my view it would be a blatant invasion of privacy.
Not using their sofware will -may be- help for a while, but how long before gouvernmental so called "security services" will use it for their own goals?
Our only hope is on some clever hackers to find counter measures in time.

Answer 4

I don't have a mic on my PC, :)

Anyway why use google when you have yahoo?

Answer 5

Why post this question twice???

Answer 6

That is illegal, surely