John Battelle, the great expert on Google has disturbing news for all of us:
Herewith the story of my attempts to buy a Dora the Explorer Mr. Face Plush Backpack from ToysRUs using Google Checkout.
In short, Google now has my credit card number. (It’s one I use for testing, however).
It feels kind of odd, to be honest.
It seems Google is obviating the merchant entirely vis the ongoing data relationship with the buyer.
The registration screen states: “”Google” will appear by the charge on your credit card statement. Your card number will not be shared with the seller.”
Well, all these developments make more important than ever to find new ways to protect our privacy.
Advertisers (and Google is becoming more than a technology or a media company, an advertising company) will love to have your credit card and to find out your shopping habits.
Like the “don’t call me” lists that have stopped some of the worst telemarketing practices, online merchants will have to face similar rules in order to avoid more span and more privacy violations.
Unfortunately, the basic “let me alone!” traditional definition of privacy is going to be a lost right in the new online world.
