Comment 3 for bug 967056

Revision history for this message
Colin Law (colin-law) wrote :

I don't think the problem is so much the use of the word privacy but that the wording in Privacy settings is rather brief and open to misinterpretation. For example in the Recent Items tab it says
"Every time a file or an application is used, some information can be stored. This activity can be used to retrieve files during searches or as history in applications"
To an uninitiated user it is not clear where the information is being stored, off on the internet somewhere perhaps? The phrase "this activity can be used to retrieve files during searches" suggests the possibility of a third party somewhere searching through your files. It sounds like the sort of wording used in the small print of a contract. In fact if that sentence is read carefully it does not actually make sense,
I think the whole thing could be made much clearer if there were a few sentences giving the background to what this is all about, explaining that the information is for the use of the PC user and that the it is stored on the PC and is not sent off anywhere.

This is compounded by the wording on the Diagnostics tab that states:
"Ubuntu can collect anonymous information that helps developers to improve it". Apparently there is no option to prevent this information from being collected and sent off. When the Privacy Policy button is clicked this takes one off to the website where it talks about how Canonical will use your personal information, which does not give the right impression at all.

I understand personally that there is not a privacy issue here, but to a less informed individual this may not be clear at all and may lead him/her to think that he is being snooped on.