First there was search history. Then a ton of widgets and apps to help you as you, well, stumble around the web. Now Google, as I expected, has launched Web History. In other words, the rest of what you do online. This whole trend needs a name. Wait, OK, my name for it is the Database of Intentions. But the issue, the nub, the rub, the trade off between privacy, data, and benefits – that also needs a catchy name. Google gets better the more data it has about everything. It also gets scarier.
I asked Eric about this in our conversation and he was quite clear – Google will support data portability and transparency. I am thrilled to hear it. It’s a non trivial thing to do. But it’s essential, as Eric pointed out, to Google’s brand that it be trusted.
From Google’s Blog post:
Today, we’re pleased to announce the launch of Web History, a new feature for Google Account users that makes it easy to view and search across the pages you’ve visited. If you remember seeing something online, you’ll be able to find it faster and from any computer with Web History. Web History lets you look back in time, revisit the sites you’ve browsed, and search over the full text of pages you’ve seen. It’s your slice of the web, at your fingertips.
How does Web History work? All you need is a Google Account and the Google Toolbar with PageRank enabled.
Does the idea of Google knowing everywhere you go on the web scare you? Or does it thrill you? It does both for me.
Again, I ask these questions: do we need a data Switzerland? Or at the very least, do we need a data Bill of Rights?