Theres some search engine fodder!! So Eric Schmidt says
I fucking hate that point of view. And here is why:
- If I’m looking for a new job, I don’t want my current company to know. Should I not be looking for a new job?
- If I’m developing Tor, or Tor related software, but my company is owned by a country that wants to ban privacy software, should I not be working on Tor?
- If I like other guys, but am in the Army, should I not be in the Army, or not be gay? Which one are you against?
Any of these points can be countered by saying I shouldn’t publicize what I’m doing if its touchy. But Google makes things publicly accessible in a way they might otherwise not be.
For instance, if I’m looking for a new job and don’t want my current employer to find out, I shouldn’t blast my resume all over Craigslist. But what if I just post it to a few job sites? Google aggregates that information in a way where my intentions may pop up by entering programming related words on my resume, and a location.
As for Tor development, I suppose I could use a handle instead of my real name. But doesn’t that still feed into the above quote? But I have to use a handle, otherwise my name will be on the privacy software. If my name is on the privacy software, my employer could get upset. What about Tor in the first place? Yes, pedophiles use it. But gang bangers use guns. If we ban Tor can we go ahead and ban guns too?
In 1776, guns brought this country it’s freedom. Today Tor helps the people of fascist governments rise up. The tools change, and if those tools offer the citizenry a way to unite then you can’t ban them. I suppose I could keep going down this road and note that the Founding Fathers didn’t post flyers to invite the British to Philadelphia. The Articles of Confederation weren’t posted for comment, with British response to be addressed to Washington. That was done in secret. I suppose that shouldn’t have happened either?
I really don’t think that I’m overstating the argument. In Iran or China you have to do thing in secret, otherwise the government will get you. So what about all my Republican friends who “weren’t doing anything wrong”, so they didn’t mind the loss of privacy from the Patriot Act? Now they are pretty pissed about Obama’s computer privacy shitbill. That brings things a little closer home. But thats what you get! Never give up privacy, because later on someone you don’t like will use it against you!
I feel bipartisan in my privacy concerns. I don’t give a shit who you are, stop making my right to privacy look like criminal intent.
You … stupids!
