Consumed => “Google Is Watching Me, and I’m Fine With It” by Theresa Cramer on EContent Magazine.

http://www.econtentmag.com/Articles/Column/T.0/Google-Is-Watching-Me-and-Im-Fine-With-It-82385.htm

=> My value add (i.e., left a comment)…

Trust is something that is earned and deserved. It’s not the default of a B2C or even a B2B relationship. Frankly, it’s not the default of any proper relationship – online or offline. If I have to protect me from you then what does that say about you? If you’re acting in your own best interest and not mine – as is the definition of agency – then clearly we are not friends. In fact, that typically denotes an adversarial relationship, yes? Doesn’t the smile on the vampire’s face as he shakes your hand and sucks the privacy out of your life trouble anyone?

Furthermore, if subverting my right to privacy is as simple as a check box on a terms & conditions page then what does that say about the stability, value and integrity of my right to privacy? The lack of transparency (i.e., a daily email that says “This is what Google learned about you today and did so without offering you a dime.”) screams foul, does it not? Is there not a disconnect between the fact Big Brother is saying “You can trust me” but then implying that I had better set my privacy settings to stop him from using me. Why isn’t my privacy the default?

The time as come to stop judging these black box Big Brothers and Sisters by their words and give greater weight to their actions. That said, article such as this from authorities such as EContent are naive, disturbing and reek of corruption.