Lawmakers Ask For FTC Investigation of Google Buzz 131
angry tapir writes "Eleven US lawmakers have asked the FTC to investigate Google's launch of its Buzz social-networking product for breaches of consumer privacy. The representatives — six Democrats and five Republicans from the House Energy and Commerce Committee — noted in their letter that Google's roll-out of Buzz exposed private information of users to Google's Gmail service to outsiders. In one case, a 9-year-old girl accidentally shared her contact list in Gmail with a person who has a 'sexually charged' username, the lawmakers said in the letter."
penishead (Score:2, Funny)
Think of the children! We can't let them talk to people with sexually charged usernames! ESPECIALLY NOT OTHER CHILDREN!
a "sexually charged" username (Score:5, Funny)
a "sexually charged" username
What, like Dick Dynamo?
Re:There. Fixed that for you. (Score:4, Funny)
Because perverts and only perverts have "sexually charged" usernames on the internet!
Re: a "sexually charged" username (Score:4, Funny)
Tragically, you're wrong. See, the 9yr old is a member of the Dick van Dyke fan club, and has regular conversations online with him via email.
His username? penisvanlesbian@gmail.com
Sucks, he wasn't doing anything wrong. :(
Always a good idea to attack the strongest link (Score:3, Funny)
If I were to fight the "dangers" an unsupervised 9 year old can find on the web I'd clearly start by how he uses a particular function in a particular website. /sarcasm
It's frightening to think that someone can publicly say such idiocies and journalists (or whoever hears him first) won't directly laugh in his face and call him names.
Re:There. Fixed that for you. (Score:5, Funny)
Pervert.
Re: a "sexually charged" username (Score:3, Funny)
Tragically, you're wrong. See, the 9yr old is a member of the Dick van Dyke fan club, and has regular conversations online with him via email.
His username? penisvanlesbian@gmail.com
I thought it was richardvanlevee@expertSexchange.org
Foes list (Score:3, Funny)
I hereby request all you 9 year old girls to add me to your foes list.
Re:There. Fixed that for you. (Score:5, Funny)
"In one case, a 9-year-old girl accidentally shared her contact list in Gmail with a person who has a 'sexually charged' username, the lawmakers said in the letter."
In one case, the parents of a 9 year old girl weren't paying attention, like they should have been, while their daughter surfed the web
In other news a Mr. Dick Johnson also known to some as Richard Johnson was arrested last night for the use of his obscene name on the internet. Mr Johnson, a youth councelor at a local elementary school, was exposed to have an obscene name on the internet by the social networking service Google Buzz.
"We never questioned the mans name," spoke a school representative, "until he was found using the internet. I guess he contacted one of the parents and with the whole social-thingy-network of the Googles his name spread to children online. Stern action must be taken against people with silly names and Google to protect our children."
In the meantime an organisation has formed to protest this incident. The organisation known as "Protecting Eccentric Names from Internet Surfers" (P.E.N.I.S.) is making a stance against social networking incidents where the use of proper names has sparked incidents with parents of young children. Willy Dickins, head of the P.E.N.I.S. committee, commented that his name has often lead to misunderstandings. "Last year I got arrested for befriending someone on facebook and trying to send them a message", Willy spoke, "since that day I've been using the pseudonym FreeWilly, which is symbolic for me wanting to be free to use my own name again."
"It's all about the perception of my name and the context people see it in." said private Parts, a soldier in marine corps, "When I go online with my rank and surname, people automatically label me as a pervert.". The ever growing member list of P.E.N.I.S. shows that this problem is growing fast, and with the advent of technology expanding into areas where children may be confronted with these dubious names.
Re:There. Fixed that for you. (Score:5, Funny)
I see your Dick Johnson, and raise you a Dr. Dick Chopp, who performs vasectomies: http://www.urologyteam.com/dr-richard-chopp [urologyteam.com]
Anyone care to go higher?
I guess, considering the procedure that is about to be performed, a little chuckle about the name might lighten the ordeal.
Re:There. Fixed that for you. (Score:5, Funny)
Don't forget his associate, Dr. Les Wang
http://www.urologyteam.com/our-doctors/dr-lester-wang [urologyteam.com]