Journal d'investigation en ligne et d'information‑hacking
par bluetouff

Google Screenwise might use Deep Packet Inspection, by QOSMOS

The recent announce of Google about his Screenwise panel raised various reactions, and many privacy questions. Screenwise lets users who decided to join, share their browsing data with Google. Google will pay for this (Up to $25 in gift cards.). Screenwise panelists are invited to use Google Chrome and the Screenwise plugin for Chrome. This plugin will collect their browsing data, as a keylogger does. Google intends to improve its services and products by analyzing user's way to browse the web.

The recent announce of Google about his Screenwise panel raised various reactions, and many privacy questions. Screenwise lets users who decided to join, share their browsing data with Google. Google will pay for this (Up to $25 in gift cards.). Screenwise panelists are invited to use Google Chrome and the Screenwise plugin for Chrome. This plugin will collect their browsing data, as a keylogger does.

Google intends to improve its services and products by analyzing user's way to browse the web.

"What we learn from you, and others like you, will help us improve Google products and services and make a better online experience for everyone."

Privacy issues ?

Google does not explane which personal data it might exclude from the collect process (as sexuality, political or religious related data). How much time data will be stored ? As users can access the collected data, we assume data are not anonymized. We also wonder if Google partners will be able to access these nominative data. A Google spokesman responded eWeeks

"People can choose to participate if it's of interest (or if the gift appeals) and everyone who does participate has complete transparency and control over what Internet use is being included in the panel. People can stay on the panel as long as they'd like, or leave at any time."

But Screenwise might reveal something quite disturbing

Google's partnership with Knowledge Networks, recently aquired by GFK, which is also an investor of the deep packet inspection (DPI) leading french company Qosmos, has attracted our attention on the technology that might be used to track Screenwise panelists. In addition to the Google Chrome extension that would collect browser history, something much more intrusive might be used... DPI of course.

Qosmos provides network intelligence oriented deep packet inspection solutions for GFK and was recently involved in mass Internet surveillance tools selling to Syria, through Area SpA, an italian company. Deep Packet Inspection is a dual technology but it's main caracteristic is to be intrusive... by definition. Google's partnership with Knowledge Networks/GFK let us suppose that Google will use Qosmos deep packet inspection probes to track users browsing experience.

Google remains too vague about the exact nature of collected data, their storage or their exploitation.

In France, a few months ago, Orange launched Orange Preferences, a panel we can easily compare to Screenwise. Orange confessed the use of Deep Packet Inspection to analyses data in realtime. Orange worked in collaboration with the Commission Nationale de l'Informatique et des Libertés, to prevent any privacy issues.

What about Google's guarantees according to Screenwise user's privacy ?

 

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