Palm Denies that the Palm Pre Violates User Privacy

[Ed Hardy]

A flurry of reports and forum posts surfaced yesterday that said the Palm Pre violates its users privacy by periodically sending its location to Palm, Inc.

The company has responded with a statement:

"Palm takes privacy very seriously, and offers users ways to turn data collecting services on and off. Our privacy policy is like many policies in the industry and includes very detailed language about potential scenarios in which we might use a customer's information, all toward a goal of offering a great user experience. For instance, when location based services are used, we collect their information to give them relevant local results in Google Maps. We appreciate the trust that users give us with their information, and have no intention to violate that trust."

The actual collecting of location data is being done by Google, who uses it to help find problems in the version of Google Maps on the Pre. Users have the option to stop sending diagnostic information of this kind, while still  being able to use the location-based services. 

Source: Phone Scoop

Related Articles:

• Palm Pre Review
• Palm Pre Commercials Are Effective, If Odd

[jigwashere]

The last phrase in their statement, ". . . (we) have no intention to violate that trust." What's the road to hell paved with, again? At least Palm isn't remotely turning on the Pre's camera and watching us!

[Hook]

Frankly, the fact that anyone using cloud computing, or even the internet in general, gets too worked up over privacy is kind of weird. Yes, we do trust sites and services to use secure servers and protect our information, and they do. But the information is being collected and stored and it is out there, in many cases whether you want it or not (your bank keeps your records on servers whether you have "online banking" or not).

It's not just closing the barn door after the horse has run off. There is no longer a barn door.

[Antoine Wright]

Uh, if the end-user license agreement says that Palm (or a 3rd party) can collect anon information about you, and you have to click to agree to this in order to use the product/service, Palm is right, they aren't in the wrong here.

Those legal gotcha's are getting a lot of people miffed these days... which is a shame, people should just read more and understand this stuff before jumping into products/services like this.

[jigwashere]

Uh, if the end-user license agreement says that Palm (or a 3rd party) can collect anon information about you, and you have to click to agree to this in order to use the product/service, Palm is right, they aren't in the wrong here.

Those legal gotcha's are getting a lot of people miffed these days... which is a shame, people should just read more and understand this stuff before jumping into products/services like this.

I believe you can agree to use the service and "opt-out" of information collection. The privacy laws aren't strong enough that consumers "opt-in" to having their information collected and shared. Consumers must "opt-out," and typically have to renew the "opt-out" every year. "Opt-out" does not apply to joint marketers and affiliates.

People do ignore the privacy statements in part because they're so difficult to understand, often contain a lot of marketing, and, quite frankly, we don't believe them anymore.

[Varjak]

I was under the impression that all phones with GPS periodically reported their locations back (although maybe the data isn't recorded). I always thought the only way to effectively turn that off is to take the battery out of the phone. (Maybe too much TV/movies for me though).

[ward.smith]

I was under the impression that all phones with GPS periodically reported their locations back (although maybe the data isn't recorded). I always thought the only way to effectively turn that off is to take the battery out of the phone. (Maybe too much TV/movies for me though).

I take my battery out and leave it at home and then take my Centro to work. Watch them try to track me now. I also heard that keeping your phone under your pillow works as well. My wife puts her phone in a ziplock baggie and keeps it in the toilet. I assured her that if she didn't use the baggie that they definitely could not track her.

[harpgliss]

Hi,

What upsets me is the lack of control a consumer has over the mining and use of their personal information.

I hear people say they have nothing to hide so it is not an issue for them but that just confuses and upsets me more.

Just giving a pass to corporate data mining because you have nothing to hide?

We always say to be careful when giving out personal information but then we do not give this a second glance as it is a big corporation and just presumed they will play nice with said data.

Some nebulous language and a pledge to be play nice with said data, WOW!

Does anyone read the fine print or are you even really given an option when you go to buy a phone, to read the fine print to make sure what you agree to?

I, personally think it is rare for a sales person to giv ehte customer, or the customer to take the time, to read the fine print.

These companies rely on the assumption consumers will not ask, or take the time to read all the legal fine print before they sign.

Do you fault the seller, buyer, or, in this case Palm, for not making consumers more aware of what they are signing?

I would like to see a more transparent process where the consumer is made aware of the fine print and given an option to not provide this information.

There should always be an option to not give this information outside of not buying a cell phone.

Idealist point of view maybe but something I believe should be too.

David

[JRakes]

Heeheehee... Too funny, Ward!

Frankly, the fact that anyone using cloud computing, or even the internet in general, gets too worked up over privacy is kind of weird. Yes, we do trust sites and services to use secure servers and protect our information, and they do. But the information is being collected and stored and it is out there, in many cases whether you want it or not (your bank keeps your records on servers whether you have "online banking" or not).

It's not just closing the barn door after the horse has run off. There is no longer a barn door.

Ayup. Which is why I have no intention of stuffing anything of a personal / private nature on somebody else's server. It's certainly not the same as posting your info on a billboard, but it's not much better than hiding it under a flower pot on the front porch.

[Antoine Wright]

Hi,

What upsets me is the lack of control a consumer has over the mining and use of their personal information.

< snip >

These companies rely on the assumption consumers will not ask, or take the time to read all the legal fine print before they sign.

Do you fault the seller, buyer, or, in this case Palm, for not making consumers more aware of what they are signing?

I would like to see a more transparent process where the consumer is made aware of the fine print and given an option to not provide this information.

There should always be an option to not give this information outside of not buying a cell phone.

Idealist point of view maybe but something I believe should be too.

David

Its not an idealist point of view on your end at all.
If a salesperson doesn't give one the time to read, that should be red flag enough to step away from that purchase.
If a person isn't adept enough to read the big and fine print when making purchases, enlising to websites, etc., then they too should step away.

Simply speaking, its a reasonable expectation to read a contract; whenever anyone gives up that right, they are allowing themselves to receive the consequences of their actions.