A lovers’ quarrel: Google and I (also, a lot of data).

Travelling?

Why yes I am Google – you remembered!

Two days ago I got on a plane in Halifax and landed in NYC. Three days ago I got this email:

At first I was creeped out. About as creeped out as I was when I got my own “Happy Birthday” Google doodle. Then I remembered how much I get out of this little relationship Google and I are in. G gets information about me, gets to advertise to me, sell my profile for a higher rate than when I was an unknown — I get free email, access to Drive and Docs which have become integral to my work, and the confidence that my account *probably* won’t be compromised (or at least that a system is in place to catch it).

Next, I was impressed. Good job G, you payed attention last May when I got that email with my flight itinerary. It is always lovely to be thought of.

Impressed, but not convinced.

I did not open the email until today. “Play” made me think games, sorry G, I already have my “Flow Free” app. and it takes up more than enough of my time. When I opened the email I was a little surprised. All the suggested apps are London or Europe based.

G, how could you!? Don’t you know me at all? I live in the UK half the year, I am visiting the US. I’ve seen your maps, I know you know better!

It is a Bounty Bar when you know I hate coconut. To think, I was so pleased with you just a moment ago.

Point is, even with a lot of data (I am approaching 16 000 emails saved), even the best information digestion systems (yes, I am looking at you G), is far from perfect.

We worry a lot about our information being mis-used.

We might also want to think about being mis-represented by our data.

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