ubuntu-privacy team mailing list archive

[northrup <1054776@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Jeremy: The difference between the Dash and, say, Google Now is that one
typically does not use Google Now to launch applications or find local
files (I don't know if that's even possible).  Siri typically doesn't do
as much of those things either; it can launch apps, but since iOS
doesn't (without jailbreaking) reveal the contents of its filesystem,
searching for local files is out of the question there.  Not to mention
that both Android and iOS have an app list to go to as the primary
launch method *instead* of Now/Siri/etc., whereas the Dash (or rather, a
lens of it) *is* the "app drawer" so to speak.

Thus, the use cases for both Google Now and Siri are quite different
from that of the Dash; instead, the Dash's use seems to be more in line
with a Start Menu, being it the primary method of launching applications
that aren't already in the sidebar.  Because it's used as a Start Menu
rather than a Siri, users expect to see results on *their* machine, not
on the web.

I understand the idea that Unity is going for.  What I'm saying is that
it can be done in a way that doesn't intrude on user privacy and
introduce a gaping hole in Ubuntu's security.  That's why the Shopping
"Lens" (it isn't even its own lens, so calling it the "Shopping Lens" is
misleading...) has been drawing so much criticism, and why that needs to
be fixed if Canonical cares about user privacy and safety.

And yes, you can opt-out.  But why should we have to opt out?  If users
want Amazon integration, why can't they opt in?

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https://bugs.launchpad.net/bugs/1054776

Title:
  Don't include remote searches in the home lens

Status in “unity-lens-shopping” package in Ubuntu:
  Triaged

Bug description:
  Recent news (http://www.omgubuntu.co.uk/2012/09/online-shopping-
  features-arrive-in-ubuntu-12-10) indicates that the home lens will, by
  default, search Amazon for products to put in the 'More suggestions'
  section. This means that regular searches for local applications and
  files are transmitted to a remote server, which I believe breaks an
  expectation of privacy. It also seems somewhat tasteless for my
  operating system to be advertising things I might want to buy.
  Finally, the idea that Ubuntu is now ad-supported has brought
  considerable negative PR on tech news sites like Slashdot and Hacker
  News.

  All of these problems could be easily avoided if the shopping lens
  were separate, rather than showing results in the home lens.  The
  shopping results would still be very convenient when the user wanted
  to see them - they could opt in with a single click, as we currently
  can with the video lens, for example.

  To anticipate one likely response: I understand that this feature can
  be removed by uninstalling the package. I believe it should be opt-in,
  not opt-out, and I also think the feature is useful, so I don't want
  to remove it completely from my system.

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