[533] in Privacy_Forum
[ PRIVACY Forum ] Google introduces SafeSearch locking ... but ...
daemon@ATHENA.MIT.EDU (privacy@vortex.com)
Wed Nov 11 13:56:47 2009
Date: Wed, 11 Nov 2009 10:26:55 -0800
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Greetings. Google has introduced a function to allow the "locking" of
SafeSearch mode so that -- supposedly -- children cannot easily change
SafeSearch settings: http://bit.ly/qxVEE (Official Google Blog)
This is a laudable effort. Unfortunately, it is problematic how
effective it will be against today's young and sophisticated
Web surfers.
Disabling this feature reportedly is as simple as clearing browser
cookies, using a different browser or user account, and so on.
The locking may be effective with the youngest children, but I suspect
that in short order kids will be trading instructions and scripts
not only for disabling the lock in various ways, but also to make
sure that the lock is re-enabled when they're finished, and perhaps
even to fake the Google Balls graphic that appears to indicate that
SafeSearch lock is "activated."
Still, from Google's standpoint, there isn't much more very practical
that they can do about this unilaterally, and there's nothing wrong
with the effort, so long as parents understand the very real limitations
of the technique.
--Lauren--
Lauren Weinstein
lauren@vortex.com
Tel: +1 (818) 225-2800
http://www.pfir.org/lauren
Co-Founder, PFIR
- People For Internet Responsibility - http://www.pfir.org
Co-Founder, NNSquad
- Network Neutrality Squad - http://www.nnsquad.org
Founder, GCTIP - Global Coalition
for Transparent Internet Performance - http://www.gctip.org
Founder, PRIVACY Forum - http://www.vortex.com
Member, ACM Committee on Computers and Public Policy
Lauren's Blog: http://lauren.vortex.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/laurenweinstein
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