With all of the concern regarding online privacy and tracking, it is important to take into account the differing views and opinions involved.  There are some who simply want more information provided to them about how they are being tracked online, and to have more control over how the information gathered about them is utilized.

The current data practices of Internet companies are not cohesive with the expectations of their customers, thus creating a rift between the parties.  It is common for Internet companies to collect information about their users, and also to divulge what other sites were visited by the user in a growing of marketers to appeal to an increasingly receptive audience based on tracking their interests, age, gender and habits. This practice is referred to as behavioral targeted advertising.

Under much debate is the practice of Ghostery, wherein companies use browser plug-ins that detect cookies, web beacons, and other third party attempts to collect information from users and store it, often without their knowledge.  Studies are still going back and forth with accusations, but what remains the most amazing is the often overlooked fact that online marketing is evolving into a futuristic and accurate being, and is developing the ability to single out their target audience, a way to save the time and effort of both marketers and users.  It seems that once the etiquette of personal information storage and usage is clearly defined, the process will become quite the norm.  Relayed by Deep Blue Interactive, South Florida web development and online marketing agency.

The American Library Association, the Association of College and Research Libraries and the Association of Research Libraries have implored that a federal judge to pay special attention to the class-action settlement between Google, authors and publishers in the Google Book Search controversy.

In a court filling the three groups asked Judge Denny Chin of Federal District Court to provide continued oversight of the settlement, as a measure to ensure that the pricing Google charges for subscriptions to its digital library are not too high from lack of competition.  Google Book Search is the only tool of its kind so far, a natural monopoly, and the company has set up alliances.

The groups have also voiced their concern to Judge Chin regarding the privacy of readers of the online books.  Google has repeatedly stated that it will place the privacy of users foremost.  Google, the Author’s Guild and the Association of American Publishers maintain their stance that the deal is beneficial for authors, publishers as well as the public.  Google has assured all parties that Google Book Search will not prevent competition.  Relayed by Deep Blue Interactive, your Florida online marketing resource.

A search engine is essentially a tool whose performance level is dependent upon the amount of information it has the capacity to accumulate and draw from.  For this reason, while the World Wide Web would appear to be free, it is actually exchanging its service for little bits of information that are useful to businesses and search engines. 

A good example of obtaining information and transforming it into a tool for users is the Google Search Engine.  Google records internet protocol addresses generated by individual computers, cookies permitted by users, which browser is used, and the computer’s operating system to compile data used to advance its technology and information base.  Google does all of this in efforts to develop new technologies for the future, based on information it gathers and existing technologies. 

 With many in frenzy about online security and privacy measures, it is important to realize that information gathered online is utilized to further technology and is necessary for its advances.  Obtaining user information online can be done with respect to user privacy, as many companies have shown. 

An example of this is Google, who absorbs the information it requires, at which point it politely destroys the personal information.  After a specified length of time, Google permanently deletes the last two digits from the I.P. address and parts of the cookie numbers, for privacy issues.  This essentially separates the correlation between the search query and the computer it was generated from.  Brought to you by Deep Blue Interactive, your Fort Lauderdale interactive marketing and web design solution.

As the internet and technology continue to change virtually every second, it becomes increasingly difficult to follow what every company is doing.  That is, unless you are Google.  When you find yourself at the top, you also find yourself involved in situations that can become cumbersome.

Currently, Google is amid an online privacy issue that may determine a set standard for internet privacy standards.  Of course, standards and practices evolve right along with technology and so determining and implementing such a set of standards has become more of a circus than a forum.

The many that envy Google’s industry status have been desperately searching routes to relieve the internet mogul of some of its popularity-to little avail.  The most recent attacks on Google have come in the form of accusations that Google’s privacy policy are evil because the company does not give the names of searchers in any circumstance or any search.  Google’s motto is “Don’t be Evil”, which has sparked a plethora of debates on whether the company violates its own motto.

Google’s stand on the issue of online privacy is not to make judgments about its users.  According to Eric Schmidt, Google’s Chief Executive,

“’Don’t be evil’ is an invitation to debate, it means we will fight over what it means.”
For the moment, both sides of this heated debate seem to be tied.  Brought to you by Deep Blue Interactive, your South Florida interactive marketing and web design solution.

Google is the master of forging exclusive relationships.  Google courted us with search, and eventually we began to accept our invitations to Gmail-sending invites to our friends who in turn sent them to their friends. 

Now factor in the scads of us who have implemented and adore the Google calendar.  The Google calendar provides scheduling capabilities at their finest, with the ability to share information inside and outside of the office.  But wait, it gets better-the Google calendar and email linked up and began communicating with each other!  So who wouldn’t want that incoming email about an event added to their calendar automatically? Yes please.

Then Google incorporated its instant messenger within Gmail.  Right there in your inbox is your buddy list, a search box, Google Maps and any other Google tool you could possibly need to make it through your day unscathed-and easy.  Did I mention you can now chat with your friends via video with your Gmail chat?  Still not impressed?  It works flawlessly, even between a Mac and a PC. 

MapQuest was the go-to online map source-then Google Maps was born.  As Google Maps provides novel features regularly, it just seems silly to use anything else.  From RSS feeds to subway directions, Google is innovation and it is a part of us.  Brought to you by Deep Blue Interactive, your Fort Lauderdale interactive marketing and web design firm.