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by smeg 5162 days ago
> Well, first off, Google has a privacy policy [1] where they commit to not publishing my entire works without my consent.

It doesn't say that anywhere. The Privacy Policy covers "What information we collect and why we collect it.". In other words, the PP is about information they collect about you using the service, not stuff you upload to Drive. Think IP addresses, cookies, log-on times etc.

> Even without that, though -- what do you think would happen if they did what you're suggesting? I think the public punishment would be worse than any legal repercussions.

So your saying that TOS don't matter and we shouldn't read or analyse them because we trust Google wont do anything untoward? So we are we even having this discussion in the first place then?
1 comments
yesbabyyes 5161 days ago
> It doesn't say that anywhere. The Privacy Policy covers "What information we collect and why we collect it.". In other words, the PP is about information they collect about you using the service, not stuff you upload to Drive. Think IP addresses, cookies, log-on times etc.

I'm not so sure about that:

  We collect information in two ways:

  - Information you give us. [...]
  - Information we get from your use of our services. [...]

  [...]

  We will ask for your consent before using information for a
  purpose other than those that are set out in this Privacy Policy.
> So your saying that TOS don't matter and we shouldn't read or analyse them because we trust Google wont do anything untoward?

Of course we should. And when we've read them, we should realize that if we want to use such services, we need to assign the provider certain rights to the content. Otherwise, the services couldn't exist. I'm just saying that I think the social contract is actually stronger, so the fallout from bad behavior would be worse punishment than the slaps on the wrist the US government would give. Of course, you don't have to agree with that, it's my belief.

> So we are we even having this discussion in the first place then?

Why indeed. Perhaps because more people have read lazy analyses such as the one linked, than honest analyses such as the one by The Verge (or even, gasp, read the whole actual TOS and made their on analysis), which several people has linked to in the comments. I suggest you read it.

Edit: Formatting, more nuanced language.

link