Google is watching you

by James Konik { May 13th 2007 at 1:00PM }

Google has invented a system for monitoring the habits of online gamers. The technology is intended to track gaming habits in order to make in-game advertising more relevant to users. It's targeted at all online platforms, including Wii.

Apparently our playing habits can reveal all sorts of information about us. The way we behave in a game can be used to draw up a profile of our psychological characteristics, and this data can then be used to sell us stuff.

The system was patented in the US and Europe last month, although Google say they have no plans to roll it out in the near future. Privacy campaigners have deep concerns about the system, pointing out that while Google's ideas may be relatively benign, the information may not stay in their hands. The US federal government has already taken Google to court in order to gain access to their data.

So what do your gaming habits say about you? Does your in-game behaviour reflect your real life personality? Any dirty little secrets hiding on your memory cards? They might not be secrets for much longer.

[Via Wiiha!]

Tags: advertising, big brother, BigBrother, google, guardian, nintendo wii, NintendoWii, online, online games, OnlineGames, the guardian, TheGuardian, wii

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Mike @ May 13th 2007 1:04PM

scary...

Chris the 2nd, last, third and forth @ May 13th 2007 1:30PM

Nintendo wouldn't sell out its customers, thats something I expect microsft to do.

But i'd be annoyed if they did w/o my confirmation.

L @ May 13th 2007 3:53PM

@2 yey like microsft really wants to help google for money... don't think so

Billy_McBong @ May 13th 2007 3:56PM

i dont care
Google will probably ask for our permission before tacking us, they ask permission before tracking on a computer

Mark D @ May 13th 2007 4:53PM

Are those bleeding companies that pathetically desperate. It won't make any difference to me, I'll ignore whatever tripe ads they come up with based on this "data" the same way I've been ignoring advertising all my life.

shadow @ May 13th 2007 6:05PM

I don't like the sound of this. I'm already picturing the disaster this will be. I'll be playing some game making porn jokes, and then when I have all my friends over I'll be embarrassed as a "Girls Gone Wild" advert pops up somewhere. I will never live that moment down.

Anton @ May 13th 2007 6:59PM

The upside of this, is that people who use 'gay' as a derogitory term will be bombarded by appropriate ads :)

Do it google.

Oh, and no-body ignores advertising, clever advertisers know how to imprint themselves on you. Unless you actively block ads in your browser, the influence you.

Billy_McBong @ May 13th 2007 7:28PM

#7
that is aweome those immature bastard wil finally get what they deserve

steve @ May 13th 2007 11:20PM

big brother scare tactics 101

_______________
http://www.howtogetfreewiipoints.com

tiamat1990 @ May 14th 2007 12:35AM

I don't really care about this. AS LONG as you remain anonymous they can track to death what the hell I'm doing.

Tim @ May 14th 2007 2:45AM

Why are advertisers so insistent on trying (and failing) to be subversive about getting this data? Have they ever actually considered ASKING us for what we'd like to see? There's tons of people out there who would quite gladly answer questions if it means being paid a few of those market research bucks. Marketing these days seems so poorly organised.

This is also the reason why I love Firefox Add-ons. Annoying flash ads and popups are things I barely ever have to deal with anymore.