Gawker: valleywag, cookies

Google so serious about privacy promises, it's patented a way to get around them

Nicholas Carlson — Mon, 28 Apr 2008 15:20:00 EDT

Google has published a patent for a method of tracking user behavior through its downloadable toolbar software and serving ads against this information in addition to the content of a Web site. In the filing, Google's Krishna Bharat happily explains how one method Google could use to accomplish this task is through "a cookie which is a persistent means of storage on the client computer." The problem with this: Before regulators approved its DoubleClick acquisition, Google executives promised privacy activists that it would carefully restrict how it uses browser "cookies" to keep track of user behavior.

Specifically, they said Google's engineers would create cookies that "crumble," or self-delete. But then, after the deal went through, Google CEO Eric Schmidt publicly backtracked on this pledge. Bharat's patent is just further proof of Google's institutional, tech-obsessed indifference to privacy.

Google CEO backpedals on privacy promises

Nicholas Carlson — Mon, 21 Apr 2008 18:00:00 EDT

Last year, Google placated privacy-minded opponents of its DoubleClick acquisition with promises to create a new kind of Web browser "cookie," a file which keeps personally identifiable information about a website's users. Now that Google has swallowed DoubleClick, the online advertising company seems to have lost its interest in developing these so-called "crumbled cookies," the Financial Times reports. Google CEO Eric Schmidt that's because cookies are too complex for Google to deal with. "What we've discovered about cookies is that every question leads to a one-hour conversation," Schmidt said. Please, folks, be a little more understanding: It's not that Google doesn't want to answer difficult questions about privacy. They're just too busy.

Yahoo's gingerbread men

skidder — Thu, 21 Dec 2006 11:45:32 EST

SCOTT KIDDER — When you've been having a rough few ~~days~~ ~~weeks~~ year, how does a tech company celebrate a reorganization designed "to more effectively focus on key customer segments and capture future growth opportunities"? You get a Taiwanese coffee shop to create thousands of gingerbread cookies with your company logo on them, of course!

Hmm, I wonder if this fell under the Audience Group or the Technology Group?

More photos, and the backstory, after the jump.

A tipster writes...

My cousin has a coffee shop in Taiwan and received an order to make 1000 of these gingerbread cookies for Yahoo. They're handmade! She says she doesn't want anymore orders though. :) Don't know who the lucky thousand are going to be...these sure beat the Google Its Its.