Re: [projectvrm] Sweden Bans Google Cloud Services Over Privacy Concerns

[Katherine Kern < >]

Mary, 

I just returned from another meeting with an IT services provider for our space.  

As background, COMRADITY is a physical and virtual space where creative services professionals members enjoy the furnished space and infrastructure without having to sign a longterm lease and invest capital.  It is sort of like co-working but specifically for traditional and digital marketing and creative services and clients who work on a project basis.  

These are mobile workers who bring their own devices.  We provide bandwidth (wifi for "Open Studio Members" and dedicated wire for "Resident Studio Members" and in the larger client service rooms used for Focus Groups, Large and Small meetings and community networking and educational  events).

When I talk to Telecom consultants about internet service, they are all about phone service.  I explain that our members are MOBILE and will use their own cellphones.  Many use Google phone for a dedicated business number and phone mailbox and forward it to their cellphone.  When I ask if there is a Google alternative I could offer with a more private, personally secure business phone number service for a reasonable price, I get the dog look. 

If anyone knows a Telecom company with such an alternative please let me know.

Katherine Kern

www.comradity.net 

On Jun 13, 2013, at 11:43 AM, Mary Hodder < "> > wrote:

http://www.privacysurgeon.org/blog/incision/swedens-data-protection-authority-bans-google-apps/

"The ruling (By the Swedish Data Inspection Board) – which bans Google cloud products such as calendar services, email and data processing functions – is based on inadequacies in the Google contract. A risk assessment by the Board determined that the contract gives Google too much covert discretion over how data can be used, and that public sector customers are unable to ensure that data protection rights are protected.

"The assessment gives several examples of this deficiency, including uncertainty over how data may be mined or processed by Google and lack of knowledge about which subcontractors may be involved in the processing. The assessment also concluded that there was no certainty about if or when data would be deleted after expiration of the contract."

It's going to be a PR struggle to convince regular people that "personal" or personally directed services (VRM) style are different than general cloud services.. because I bet that Google would argue that Google apps are personally directed.. nothing happens unless the individual uses the services, from Google's perspective. But the individual's data  isn't controlled by the individual, VRM style.

So I think this will be the pivot point.. convincing the public, as well as the companies and governments, that it's not "personal" unless the individual controls their own data, not just the use of the product.  

And that struggle to be heard above the company's PR about what is VRM and what is not, what is "personal" and what is not, is key to this whole mess.

mary

Katherine Kern

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