Google Books privacy debate: Whose side are you on?

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Privacy is currency

I generally understand what it is you are saying, even if it makes too much use of the "If you have nothing to hide..." argument (which I doubt needs to be discussed here). However, I think some of your points are missing the bigger picture.

For instance, you say people can buy physical books at a local store if they are worried about privacy, presumably paying cash. If Google Books is successful it becomes a much cheaper way to publish, though. What happens when people can no longer purchase a hard copy of a book they are looking for? See the way academic journal subscriptions are sold now.

Also, where does this slippery slope end? How much privacy are we going to just give away? What books we read online, much like what medical information we browse online, are valuable bits of information to some companies. I don't think the right to read a book is tied to the "right" of a company to purchase that information. Or the "right" of a government to demand that information without reasonable cause.

Posted by: rloose@...   Posted on: 08/13/09 You are currently: a Guest | Members login | Terms of Use

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