EFF Wants Ubuntu To Disable Online Search By Default 124
sfcrazy writes "Ubuntu 12.10 met with some controversy before and after its launch about the inclusion of Amazon product listings alongside local search results. Now, the Electronic Frontier Foundation has raised concerns around data leaks and Amazon Ads. The EFF has asked Canonical to update Ubuntu so it disables 'Include online search results' by default. 'Users should be able to install Ubuntu and immediately start using it without having to worry about leaking search queries or sending potentially private information to third party companies. Since many users might find this feature useful, consider displaying a dialog the first time a user logs in that asks if they would like to opt-in.'"
Still, the default should be a conservative "F NO" (Score:4, Insightful)
Good Advice (Score:5, Insightful)
I think you misspelled "everybody" (Score:1, Insightful)
Re:Hmmm (Score:4, Insightful)
Re:Good Advice (Score:2, Insightful)
I think that if Ubuntu had debuted Unity with web searches built in to the lens thing, people wouldn't be nearly as surprised and even outraged. It's the change from a purely local search (albeit one with several modules) to one that includes results from Amazon that's made it shocking. Nobody is protesting amazon being included in the search bar in Firefox, for example.
Personally, I'd prefer it if there was a toggle for internet searches in the search bar, down where the privacy notice is now, and add way more useful lenses like the wikipedia one. I'd actually use that.
Comment removed (Score:5, Insightful)
Re:Good Advice (Score:5, Insightful)
Re:Hmmm (Score:4, Insightful)
Users should get a clue? What a charming view on users - I hope you're not a developer.
As a long-term Ubuntu user I have to say that I really want a clear separation between online search and local search. The last thing I want to see when searching through my files is an advertisement by some company. Not even as an opt-in.
(Apart from that general point, it should also be mentioned that Amazon sucks for a variety of good reasons.)
Re:Good Advice (Score:5, Insightful)
If Canonical had asked "Support Ubuntu by including Amazon searches?" they could have kept the money and the goodwill.
Re:Hmmm (Score:2, Insightful)
I believe you'll find Mint took over the top spot when Ubuntu began pushing Unity on everyone.
Re:Good Advice (Score:4, Insightful)