Uh-oh, it looks like you're right. I had read the Books Privacy Policy and missed it only applied to the Books section of Google Play (from the description next to the link).
Just to follow up to my own comment, it looks like the Google Play privacy policy does state, quite clearly, that they share your information with others. They're being upfront about their usage; it's just that customers and developers alike never bothered to research these things.
Ok; this is now silly. I went through and read the entire Privacy Policy on Google Play, both of them (yeah, there's two), and they make it clear, to my non lawyer mind at least, that they do in fact share this information. So all of this is based on the assumption of the world working one way when it works the other way.
Look, I'm all for privacy and protecting personal information as much as the next guy but this is silly. Google says they share customer information with people who need it. If customers don't like this, shop elsewhere. If developers don't like it, don't sell there. I really don't think this is as big a deal as it's being made out to be.
But Google does say that they share your information with others. It's right there in their Privacy Policy; this is no secret.
While I completely agree with you that personal information is valuable and something to covet (personally, that's why I'm not on Facebook) if you're going to use a service you would be well served to know what they do with your data before using it.
That is a very good point. I've never been audited (knock on wood) but wouldn't having customer details be extremely helpful if I ever was? How else would be able to prove transactions were legit?
Holy crap! Dark Helmet!! Ok, ok, breathe Eric... breathe...
Big fan sir. Your comments and insight are some of the funniest, thought provoking, and interesting I've read and I'm flattered that you would take the time to respond to me.
I agree there is a possibility of negative outcomes but there are possibilities of negative outcomes with pretty much everything. Any time you give out personal information there's a possibiilty of negative outcomes. Focusing on this as a possible issue just seems more to fit an agenda than to actually solve a real problem.
I guess what go me thinking about this (and wanting to post my first comment to Techdirt ever), was the idea that developers having personal details of their customers was a bad thing. Especially considering there's no evidence in the article, anecdotal or otherwise, to back that up. I find it borderline insulting to presume that I (and other developers) would be less inclined to protect our/your data than many of the fortune 500 companies who have had HUGE data breaches (many of whom are written about here).
More, to bring up malware as a point of concern when it comes to developers data systems seems sort of silly. What I mean is that, in my experience, developers tend to be highly concerned when it comes to security concerns. Our reputations can be ruined by security issues so it's very much in our best interest to worry a great deal about this. By the way, not to imply we're better at that or that bad things don't happen, just that developers are more "power users" when it comes to their systems than, again, many of the larger companies who have had data breaches. Why worry about developers as the problem?
Personally, I think this is more a privacy policy issue than anything else. I just checked the site I sell my software on and their privacy policy makes it clear that they will share some of your information with developers. To me that's perfectly acceptable. They're plainly stating that your data may be shared and with whom. I do wonder though, how does Steam, Apple, Xbox/Zune, and others handle this? Truly, I have no idea, but I am curious. As a developer, and business owner, if I couldn't have access to my customers information I would definately think twice about using that third party to sell my software. And maybe that's just me (Dan Nolan certainly seems to disagree).
To me, the privacy policy is the story here and not any concern over malware or data breaches from developers having their customers information. "The Lie That Is The Google Privacy Policy" would make a cool title I think ;)
First, let me preface this by saying that I'm a HUGE fan of Techdirt and the writing here. I'm very much inline with about 99% of what you guys write here. Please don't think of me as one of the trolls who usually get beat up.
That said, to be frank, this is crap and FUD of a level I've never witnessed here before. You're pretty much taking worst case scenarios and trying to drum up panic. That's despicable and you should be ashamed.
Now, my background is selling apps too, in a different eco system than Google Play, though it works in much the same way. I write software that is sold on a third party site. I too get customer details (if they exist; with Paypal orders they do not) and, as a developer/business, I find this to be crucial to building a database of customers I can continue to work with and reach out to.
For me, as a business owner, I find this data invaluable. For example, I do like to reach out to customers who returned a product to find out the "why" (I want to improve things and this is sometimes the only way). I have yet, out of a few dozen returns, had anyone *ever* complain or feel this was crossing a line. Your pointing that out as a possible failure point just doesn't jive with my reality. At all.
I find it ridiculous that the store providing customer details to the software creators would be worthy of note much less concern. Building fear, uncertainty, and doubt over this should be an embarrassment to you all.
Techdirt has not posted any stories submitted by mithra62.
Re: Using Services One Doesn't Know
Re: Re: Re: Re: Sounds more like FUD to me...
Apologies.
Re: Re: Re: Sounds more like FUD to me...
Re: Re: Sales tax
Using Services One Doesn't Know
Look, I'm all for privacy and protecting personal information as much as the next guy but this is silly. Google says they share customer information with people who need it. If customers don't like this, shop elsewhere. If developers don't like it, don't sell there. I really don't think this is as big a deal as it's being made out to be.
Re: Re: Sounds more like FUD to me...
While I completely agree with you that personal information is valuable and something to covet (personally, that's why I'm not on Facebook) if you're going to use a service you would be well served to know what they do with your data before using it.
Re: Sales tax
Re: Re: Sounds more like FUD to me...
Big fan sir. Your comments and insight are some of the funniest, thought provoking, and interesting I've read and I'm flattered that you would take the time to respond to me.
I agree there is a possibility of negative outcomes but there are possibilities of negative outcomes with pretty much everything. Any time you give out personal information there's a possibiilty of negative outcomes. Focusing on this as a possible issue just seems more to fit an agenda than to actually solve a real problem.
I guess what go me thinking about this (and wanting to post my first comment to Techdirt ever), was the idea that developers having personal details of their customers was a bad thing. Especially considering there's no evidence in the article, anecdotal or otherwise, to back that up. I find it borderline insulting to presume that I (and other developers) would be less inclined to protect our/your data than many of the fortune 500 companies who have had HUGE data breaches (many of whom are written about here).
More, to bring up malware as a point of concern when it comes to developers data systems seems sort of silly. What I mean is that, in my experience, developers tend to be highly concerned when it comes to security concerns. Our reputations can be ruined by security issues so it's very much in our best interest to worry a great deal about this. By the way, not to imply we're better at that or that bad things don't happen, just that developers are more "power users" when it comes to their systems than, again, many of the larger companies who have had data breaches. Why worry about developers as the problem?
Personally, I think this is more a privacy policy issue than anything else. I just checked the site I sell my software on and their privacy policy makes it clear that they will share some of your information with developers. To me that's perfectly acceptable. They're plainly stating that your data may be shared and with whom. I do wonder though, how does Steam, Apple, Xbox/Zune, and others handle this? Truly, I have no idea, but I am curious. As a developer, and business owner, if I couldn't have access to my customers information I would definately think twice about using that third party to sell my software. And maybe that's just me (Dan Nolan certainly seems to disagree).
To me, the privacy policy is the story here and not any concern over malware or data breaches from developers having their customers information. "The Lie That Is The Google Privacy Policy" would make a cool title I think ;)
Sounds more like FUD to me... (as Eric Lamb)
That said, to be frank, this is crap and FUD of a level I've never witnessed here before. You're pretty much taking worst case scenarios and trying to drum up panic. That's despicable and you should be ashamed.
Now, my background is selling apps too, in a different eco system than Google Play, though it works in much the same way. I write software that is sold on a third party site. I too get customer details (if they exist; with Paypal orders they do not) and, as a developer/business, I find this to be crucial to building a database of customers I can continue to work with and reach out to.
For me, as a business owner, I find this data invaluable. For example, I do like to reach out to customers who returned a product to find out the "why" (I want to improve things and this is sometimes the only way). I have yet, out of a few dozen returns, had anyone *ever* complain or feel this was crossing a line. Your pointing that out as a possible failure point just doesn't jive with my reality. At all.
I find it ridiculous that the store providing customer details to the software creators would be worthy of note much less concern. Building fear, uncertainty, and doubt over this should be an embarrassment to you all.
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