General Discussion

Whisp

(24,096 posts) Mon Jun 17, 2013, 10:07 PM Jun 2013

Are we being spied on right here on DU, by Google? [View all]

Do you consider it an invasion that DU has a deal with Google to sell ad space to you by what words you use? Do we know what else may be involved that may not be apparent?

I visit the gaming group and I get a fair amount of gamer ads. I also get 'date young asian girls' sort of ads too. I am not sure why I am targeted for that, but I am.

Is it ok for DU to use this kind of information about us and trust that Google has only the best of intentions and are honest with their contract with DU?

I'm not at all worried about DU ads, but overall I consider Facebook and all the other corporations that feed on us for info far more disturbing that spy vs spy.

92 replies

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Highlight:

Are we being spied on right here on DU, by Google? [View all] Whisp Jun 2013 OP

I used to get those exact same ads, too. Jamaal510 Jun 2013 #1

A comment Skinner posted this morning in ATA on the link below... Tx4obama Jun 2013 #2

Yes. Google has more information on all of us, than any other digital spy. onehandle Jun 2013 #3

Short answer: Yes. Solution? Use Firefox with adblock and ghostery plugins. nt Electric Monk Jun 2013 #4

I have heard that adblock can sometimes mess things up for you. Whisp Jun 2013 #8

I have AdBlock and haven't had any problems, and I haven't seen any ads now for many years. Tx4obama Jun 2013 #18

Likewise. Fearless Jun 2013 #46

Solution? PADemD Jun 2013 #10

that was a question I had. So adblock just removes the annoyance Whisp Jun 2013 #14

Ghostery can block Google Analytics too, if you set it to. nt Electric Monk Jun 2013 #32

Please advise Method to use PADemD Jun 2013 #34

Firefox Preferences -> Manage Add-Ons -> Ghostery, then scroll down a bit Electric Monk Jun 2013 #37

It's easy...just check the Google Analystics box. Atman Jun 2013 #41

NoScript takes care of that annoyance. No Google analytics, Doubleclick, ar any of the other dozens Egalitarian Thug Jun 2013 #49

You are correct about the dozens PADemD Jun 2013 #51

Google Analytics... malokvale77 Jun 2013 #83

Yes, it was blocked PADemD Jun 2013 #90

Advanced settings... malokvale77 Jun 2013 #92

That's my solution as well. alittlelark Jun 2013 #45

Nope sarisataka Jun 2013 #5

Hardly likely, not an invasion, elleng Jun 2013 #6

Anything I write here I'd say to anyone's face. hunter Jun 2013 #7

hee hee. Whisp Jun 2013 #12

That's my answer customerserviceguy Jun 2013 #53

Are you here by choice? magellan Jun 2013 #9

If a post is made in a public forum creeksneakers2 Jun 2013 #11

I meant can Google be doing something other than we think it is. Whisp Jun 2013 #13

Google can use what you type into their search box MineralMan Jun 2013 #69

I know that...that is fairly common knowledge wercal Jun 2013 #72

That is an issue to take up with the agency that demands MineralMan Jun 2013 #73

I am going to hang myself wercal Jun 2013 #75

spies everywhere Voice for Peace Jun 2013 #15

Here is the google ad that popped up for me. kentuck Jun 2013 #16

Did Google recently develop drones? Bonobo Jun 2013 #17

Don't the two collide wercal Jun 2013 #31

+1 marions ghost Jun 2013 #55

Wow, most DUers of the left conflate the two treestar Jun 2013 #63

Spot on... malokvale77 Jun 2013 #86

Everything you post here on DU is visible to the public, and spidered by Google. backscatter712 Jun 2013 #19

yeh, I know that part. Whisp Jun 2013 #21

Every time there's Google ads, or there's Google metrics code in a web page, you're logged. backscatter712 Jun 2013 #23

Seems to me marions ghost Jun 2013 #57

There are invisible "web bugs" that are on lots of web pages. backscatter712 Jun 2013 #61

worth a try marions ghost Jun 2013 #65

I am spying on you as you type. L0oniX Jun 2013 #20

I spy with my little eye Whisp Jun 2013 #22

I WILL KICK SPYING L0oniX ASS Skittles Jun 2013 #29

OH NOES ...Google is spying on us too! OMG L0oniX Jun 2013 #30

If a tree posts from the woods, and there is no one else there, Jamastiene Jun 2013 #24

What a bizarre attempt to equate willingly posting information publicly and being spied on, secretly Poll_Blind Jun 2013 #25

We are being tracked here Whisp Jun 2013 #26

I think I get what you're saying, that it's not just what you write, but what you read, and click on Electric Monk Jun 2013 #33

I understand your concerns.. wercal Jun 2013 #35

There are no "private" emails on DU MADem Jun 2013 #39

Whatever you want to call them wercal Jun 2013 #56

They were PMs on DU2, they are "DUMail" on DU3. MADem Jun 2013 #71

Yes admin has access to mail on its system wercal Jun 2013 #74

If it were subject to Google data mining, it should also be searchable. MADem Jun 2013 #77

There is a major difference between searchable and data mineable wercal Jun 2013 #78

Do we get ads in DUMail, the host group, or MIRT, though? MADem Jun 2013 #79

Well I just checked... wercal Jun 2013 #82

I suppose it would be easy to check. Get a friend, and send a bunch of DUMAILS back and forth with MADem Jun 2013 #84

Well I already get the sex toy ads...ok just kidding wercal Jun 2013 #88

Corporatocracy. marions ghost Jun 2013 #60

Yes, I saw through it too Poll_Blind Puzzledtraveller Jun 2013 #28

i`m to old to give a shit..... madrchsod Jun 2013 #27

I find the government collecting information on who, when and for how long I call to be neverforget Jun 2013 #36

Get an adblocker. MADem Jun 2013 #38

That must be it then! Whisp Jun 2013 #40

Ghostery can block cookies. malokvale77 Jun 2013 #87

I just finished watching the President on Charlie Rose Whisp Jun 2013 #42

Glad the nsa thang happened under Obama's watch flamingdem Jun 2013 #43

I hope you get to see that interview if you haven't yet. Whisp Jun 2013 #44

IKR? Obama could actually do something about it treestar Jun 2013 #64

It's not the same when the government does it. Hissyspit Jun 2013 #47

Everything here is available on the WWW BainsBane Jun 2013 #48

You have to ask? ATTN: SOLUTIONS (and Adblock isn't one): snot Jun 2013 #50

Of course we are. AngryOldDem Jun 2013 #52

I'm not sure what good it does madokie Jun 2013 #54

If you're on the Internet, or have been, for any amount of time justiceischeap Jun 2013 #58

Here's a solution. Le Taz Hot Jun 2013 #59

Google Analytics still tracks you though. GeorgeGist Jun 2013 #91

Yes. It's funny to see how the ads reflect what is being discussed treestar Jun 2013 #62

I had to call an immigration lawyer a while back. Whisp Jun 2013 #66

What you said malaise Jun 2013 #67

DU isn't spying on you. MineralMan Jun 2013 #68

I don't mind targeted ads. GreenStormCloud Jun 2013 #70

To those who advise using Adblock or similar intaglio Jun 2013 #76

Google can't come and arrest me... ljm2002 Jun 2013 #80

Yes. But it is not illegal. Rex Jun 2013 #81

I post advocating for the protection of wolves G_j Jun 2013 #85

this works for now... malokvale77 Jun 2013 #89