The free CueCat PC input device promises a cool way to find Websites by scanning bar codes or from TV cues. Unfortunately, the product and the company behind it, Digital:Convergence, have created privacy concerns due to the way the device functions.
The CueCat attaches between your keyboard and computer and can scan any standard bar code as well as special bar codes printed in magazines and other publications. You can also attach a cable to your TV to pickup sound cues that automatically take you to related Websites. This all sounds convenient and interesting, and it is. The problem is that privacy concerns have arisen because every time you scan a bar code or the device gets a TV cue, your unique user ID is sent to the Digital:Convergence server along with the request for the relevant URL.
The privacy policy from Digital:Convergence states "Any personal information such as your name, phone number, address, and e-mail address, obtained through the registration and use of :CRQ software and the :CueCat reader is private, and is maintained by Digital:Convergence in a secure and protected environment, and will never be released to any third party to solicit you unless you have expressly elected to permit it". This sounds pretty convincing, so what are the privacy concerns?
The primary concern is the fact that they collect not just the information that you fill out when you register, but also the choices you make in what codes you scan or TV cues you receive. This means Digital:Convergence will have an enormously valuable database of marketing information that would have the potential for use in highly targeted marketing. The issue is not really one of Digital:Convergence violating their privacy policy, but what happens if the company folds and the database becomes an asset to be liquidated, or someone hacks their site and steals the data. And guess what -- someone did hack their site and accessed about half of the data from their user registrations. They have since increased security and no longer store the data on their Web server.
Should all of these privacy concerns keep you from using or at least experimenting with the CueCat? Only you can answer that question based on how concerned you are. Personally, I don't plan to lose any sleep over it. Even if the worst happens and my records get released to the most prolific spammers, telemarketers and postal junk mailers, I can deal with it.
First of all, I always use a free disposable email address for such things. I never give my phone number out to those who don't need it, and if they want to cram my mailbox with junk mail, I'll just put a trash can beside it. Express your views in the fourm - Are freebies costing too much loss of privacy?.
Relevant Links
CRQ.com
Get a Cat
Digital:Convergence
The Privacy Foundation
Avoiding
Junk Email
CueCat MisCues
Are
freebies costing too much loss of privacy?