HSSCM Method: Update for October 10, 2018
October 10, 2018
The management methods inspired by high school science club behaviors are noteworthy. The goose calls these HSSCM methods or “high school science club management methods” to honor the behaviors of individuals who loved technology but were unfettered by such non essentials as football practice, the student council, and working as a volunteer at the retirement facility near the high school. Chemistry, math, physics, biology—the future.
Two items caught the Beyond Search goose’s attention this fine day.
First, the goose noted “Leaked Transcript of Private Meeting Contradicts Google’s Official Story on China.” The source is one of the popular real news sources associated with some NSA related information. The point of the write up, which the goose assumes is spot on, is:
On Sept. 26, a Google executive faced public questions on the censorship plan for the first time. Keith Enright told the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee that there “is a Project Dragonfly,” but said “we are not close to launching a product in China.” When pressed to give specific details, Enright refused, saying that he was “not clear on the contours of what is in scope or out of scope for that project.”
Okay, that seems clear.
And, on September 23, 2018, a Googler said:
“Right now, all we’ve done is some exploration,” Gomes told the reporter, “but since we don’t have any plans to launch something, there’s nothing much I can say about it.”
The hitch in the git along surfaces in this comment from the write up:
In July, Gomes had informed employees that the plan was to launch the search engine as soon as possible — and to get it ready to be “brought off the shelf and quickly deployed” once approval from Beijing was received.
The HSSCM method is to say different things to different audiences. That seems similar to practices followed in the high school science clubs with which I am familiar. For example, “Did you hot wire the PA system to play rock and roll during Mr. Durham’s morning announcements?” Our sci club leader said, “No.”
Did not fly.
The second high school science club management method the goose spotted appeared in the real news story “Facebook Isn’t Sorry — It Just Wants Your Data.” Facebook, a firm which has been associated with Cambridge Analytica and the phrase “I’m sorry,” allegedly has created what BuzzFeed calls a “home surveillance device.”
We noted this statement in the write up:
It’s also further confirmation that Facebook isn’t particularly sorry for its privacy failures — despite a recent apology tour that included an expensive “don’t worry, we got this” mini-documentary, full-page apology ads in major papers, and COO Sheryl Sandberg saying things like, “We have a responsibility to protect your information. If we can’t, we don’t deserve it.” Worse, it belies the idea that Facebook has any real desire to reckon with the structural issues that obviously undergird its continued privacy missteps.
The HSSCM method is to do exactly what the science club wants. Need to experiment on pets, not frogs, as part of the biology course of study, have at it. I recall one of our science club members tried this stunt until the teacher learned that the student was expanding beyond the normal frog dissection.
These examples suggest that one just say what’s necessary to be left along. Then move forward. Fortunately the Beyond Search goose (a member, of course) evaded being cooked.
MBA programs may not have textbooks which explain the benefits of this approach. On the other hand, maybe the schools with forward looking professors do.
Stephen E Arnold, October 10, 2018
Google Censorship Related Document
October 10, 2018
I am not sure this is a real Google document with the name “Google Leak.” If the link goes dead, you are on your own. Plus it is a long one, chuck full of quotes and images and crunchy statements. Some Googlers like crunchy statements.
An entity named Allum Bokhari uploaded the document.
For me the main point is that Google can embrace censorship. Makes sense I suppose.
The images of the slides in a PowerPoint-type presentation could have been created by Google, a third party, or some combination of thinkers with a design firm added for visual spice.
The group through whose hands the artifact passed was was Breitbart, a semi famous outfit. I know this because the name Breitbart is overlaid in orange on each of the pages of the document. The document also contains the Google logo and the branding “Insights Lab.”
I know there is an Insights Lab in Colorado, but it is tough to figure out who crated the document from what appears to be hours spent running queries against the Google search engine and fiddling with a PowerPoint type presentation system.
But who exactly is responsible for the document? Anonymity is popular with the outputs of the New York Times, Bloomberg, and online postings like this one.
The who is a bit of a mystery.
To get the document from Scribd, yep, the service with the pop ups, pleas for sign ups, etc., you have to sign up with Facebook or Google. Makes sense.
Plus, the document contains more than 80 pages, and it takes some time to dig through the lingo, the images, and the gestalt of the construct.
Here’s an image, which explains that the least free countries are China and Syria. The most free countries are Estonia and Iceland. Estonia and Iceland are good places to be free. The downside of Estonia is the tension between Estonians and Russians, who are if the chart is accurate, not into living without censorship. Plus, the border between Russia and Estonia is not formidable. It is a bit like a potato field in places. Iceland is super, particularly if one enjoys low cost data center services, fishing, hiking, and brisk winters.
The future, it seems, is censorship. I noted the phrase “well ordered spaces for safety and civility.”
The document is worth a look if you can tolerate the fact that one registers via Facebook and Google to view the alleged Google document. Viewing the document for now does not require registration. Downloading may invite endless appeals for cash.
Stephen E Arnold, October 10, 2010
Congressional Research Becomes Far Less Mysterious with Search
October 10, 2018
A strange thing is happening in Washington, the government is making itself more transparent and searchable. At least when it comes to congressional research. The Congressional Research Service has long been among the most secretive agencies in Washington, only releasing a report or two when it absolutely must. That has changed, according to a recent Federal News Radio story, “A Window Opens Into the Secretive Congressional Research Service.”
According to the story:
“CRS didn’t volunteer this initiative. Until now Its “board of directors” would only release reports individually, maybe, upon request from a constituent. But thanks to a provision in a 2018 appropriations bill, it now has to make them all public. Which means not every member of Congress liked the way things were. The provision was the work of Rep. Mike Quigley (D-Ill.). He’s been trotting out legislation about CRS for the past seven years.”
You can take a look for yourself. Currently, the service only provides documents dating back to January of 2018, but more is supposed to be on the way. The only limitation is a redaction of the author’s information.
One question is, “Why aren’t government documents, not marked classified, available to the public?”
USA.gov does not provide a comprehensive index of public US government information. Interesting.
Patrick Roland, October 10, 2018
Factualities for October 10, 2018
October 10, 2018
I decided not to mention the number of anonymous sources (17) in the “real” news story about spy chips on motherboards. Bloomberg does “real” news. Sources, like those invoked by the New York Times, need not be identified. Are there sources in fiction best sellers? Anyway… believe these or not.
- 120,000 British pounds or about $150,000. The amount Heathrow Airport was find for losing a USB storage device with high value data. Source: ZDNet
- 44,000. The estimated number of Verizon employees RIFed in a downsizing move by the owner of Yahoo. Source: Bloomberg
- $368 million. The estimated loss at Google Deep Mind smart software company in the last 12 months. Source: Forbes
- $20 million. Cost to Elon Musk remain Tesla CEO after his “deal” tweets. Source: CNBC
- 4.58 factoids. The number of entities in DBpedia, the go to resource for outfits like IBM, the New York Times, etc. Source: Twobithistory
- $14. The cost of a legitimate passport on the Dark Web. Source: Cyware
Stephen E Arnold, October 10, 2018
Design Tool Picular Taps into Google Image Color Data
October 9, 2018
We learn from a write-up at Fast Company that “Google Image Search Is Now a Design Tool.” More specifically, the new design tool Picular taps into Google Image Search for its data. This is an intriguing approach. Writer and associate editor Katharine Schwab writes:
“Picular is a new color search tool that lets you enter any search term and presents you with a slew of options, basing all of its color choices on what pops up first in Google image search. It’s a color-picker, courtesy of internet hive mind. For instance, if you type the word ‘desert’ into Picular’s search bar, the tool scrapes the top 20 image results from Google and finds the most dominant color in each image. It presents these results in a series of tiles: A sea of sandy browns and oranges, with a few blues (presumably from the sky) thrown in. Each tile has the color’s RGB code that instantly copies to your clipboard when you click on the tile, making it easy to instantly try out the colors in your work. Picular is a quick and handy way to get color ideas for a design project, especially because you can type in more emotional, evocative words and see what Google instantly associates with each idea.”
And where does Google get their associations? From its algorithms’ studies of human nature, of course. It may at first seem odd to consult an AI to better know the colors of human emotions and ideas, but some color associations we think of as natural actually vary from culture to culture, and Google extracts its data from around the world. Such a tool could certainly help designers and, especially, advertisers better connect with their intended audiences through color. Picular was created by Future Memories, a digital studio out of Sweden that was founded in 2014.
Cynthia Murrell, October 9, 2018
HSSCM Update: Two Little Used Methods
October 9, 2018
In the wake of the sinking of Google Plus, I wanted to highlight two HSSCM methods. You may recall that I use the acronym to mean “High School Science Club Management” to refer to the type of decision making found in secondary school extra curricular programs for students who perceive themselves as being pretty darned smart. I even ran a snap of me in my high school science club. We were a stellar group. Some PhDs, some published authors, and some pretty weird, anti social type dudes if I say so myself.
The first item concerns the apple of Amazon’s eye: the JEDI project for the Department of Defense. I learned from a highly reliable purveyor of information of real news that “Google Drops Out of Pentagon’s $10 Billion Cloud Competition.” That will make the day for some of the folks who labor in the Google’s DC vineyards really happy. Think of the many opportunities to explain, apologize, and reposition. On the other hand, Amazon may try to hire a couple of these Googlers. Getting some types of US government work might be tough.
What’s the management method? Well, surprise for starters. Also, creating enmity among those engaged in the RFP and procurement process. Plus, a clear signal that Google can and will change its mind on what has been a multi year process. Definitely sends a message. Just like the science club president in my high school who said, “Who wants to go to the prom? I have to work at the observatory that night?”
The second item concerns the Google Plus arabesque. If you want to get my take on the non management aspects of that exciting development, navigate to the story at this link.
The management method I want to highlight is revealed in the real news source the Wall Street Journal. You will have to pay to view the write up “Google Exposed User Data, Feared Repercussions of Disclosing to Public.” The main idea is the failure to notify. In my high school science club, I recall the time we broadcast the tune “Great Balls of Fire over the public address system.” We did not tell anyone we did it. Unfortunately it was highly unlikely that members of the football team or the wrestling team pulled off the stunt. As far as I know, our science club had the future electrical engineers in our quasi elite outfit. Google, in its wisdom, figured that keeping quiet was a prudent move.
The HSSCM method is to use exceptional judgment, ignore the advice of those who might have a different viewpoint, and create an opportunity for Google executives to explain themselves in a number of high profile venues. Will this question come up in a Congressional session? Maybe?
Net net: MBA courses can include these HSSCM methods as part of their initiative to reverse sagging enrollments.
Stephen E Arnold, October 9, 2018
Google and Social Media: An Orkut for 2018
October 9, 2018
The Google knew that it lacked person specific information at scale. Sure, the company had browser histories, ad click data, and info generated by cross correlation—but it was not specifically:
- An individual
- The personal details of that individual
- The connections (friends I suppose) of an individual
Also, the individual did not have a unique identifier. Think of this as a Google issued social security number.
The fix was to acquire Orkut and solve these data problems.
Orkut found some traction. If you follow Brazilian law enforcement, Orkut became a service of interest and utility. After a long slow decline, Orkut faded in 2014.
But Google had other “social media” designs; for example, those crazy folks from New York City playing Dodgeball. Then there was Jaiku. Too bad there was not a Jaiku-er in chief like Twitter enjoys today. Next up was Wave, which I found interesting. Anyone remember Googler Alon Halevy’s Transformic ideas? And Buzz? What about Buzz?
Now — drum roll — Google Plus or the service which killed the ability to specify AND in Boolean Google search syntax is heading down the Google sliding board.
I recall that Google Plus or Google + (isn’t that clever? using a reserved character for a name) was the future of Google. In its early days, there were 500 employees working on Google Plus, but that number grew. As I understand it, one’s compensation was linked to one’s outputs for Google Plus. Forbes calculated that in its formative stage, Google shoveled about $500 million into the service that would deliver particularized data. See “Google+ Cost $585 Million To Build (Or What Rupert Paid For MySpace).”
What’s up with Google Plus?
An alleged security lapse or gap (you decide which word fits the situation) has caused Google Plus to do a simple math process. Convert that plus to a minus. Works.
Buzzfeed News— a real news source — reported that “Google Is Shutting Down Google+ After It Discovered A Bug That Exposed Personal Information.” It seems that the security conscious company included a “breach” which shared user’s private data with apps. (More info on this at this link.)
Several observations/questions:
First, Google seems to struggle with the social media thing. It does sell online advertising, but the Facebook-type of service is a struggle. The me-too and let’s acquire approach simply has not worked. I hesitate to use the word “failure.” Maybe challenge is better?
Second, why did a security breach occur? My personal view is that people embrace projects, work on them, hunt for more interesting projects, and move on. Over time, the projects are lost in a mist of “non coolness.” Bugs are ignored; interface decisions are good enough; and interns make decisions, saying, “Wow, Google thinks I am smart. I can do this!” Right on, worker bee, right on.
Third, Google’s social media plays have been created as world services. Facebook was a dating app for a couple of Harvard whiz kids. Google’s social has been reactionary, rarely moving in a positive manner to an attainable goal. No wonder people on the team chugged along for a while and then headed off to more fun projects. Being a perpetual number two to Facebook is galling. Many Googlers just went to Google, including some high profile Googlers like its chief operating officer.
Fourth, why wasn’t security better? My view is that security has been perceived as “part of the Googleplex.” Obviously it wasn’t, and none of the Googlers realized it. Perhaps they were too busy running from meeting to meeting, looking for another assignment, starting venture capital firms, playing table tennis, or updating their Facebook page. Priorities can be a challenge.1
Net net: Google Plus may live on in a different role, sort of like Google Glass has become a super industrial and business success.
What happens if I view Google Plus through Google Glass?
I see a winner.
Stephen E Arnold, October 9, 2018
DarkCyber for October 9, 2018, Now Available
October 9, 2018
DarkCyber for October 9, 2018, is now available at www.arnoldit.com/wordpress and on Vimeo at https://vimeo.com/293949062
Stephen E Arnold’s DarkCyber is a weekly video news and analysis program about the Dark Web and lesser known Internet services. This week’s program covers two stories related to Israel’s thriving intelligence technology capabilities.
The first story discusses the allegation that NSO, based in Israel, has licensed its Pegasus system to the United Arab Emirates. A number of news services have suggested that NSO has the capability to turn a mobile phone into a remote surveillance device. Another allegation explored in this week’s DarkCyber is that NSO can access an Apple iPhone when only the mobile telephone number is provided to the company. If these assertions are accurate, NSO has leapfrogged other forensic and intelligence related firms’ capabilities.
The second story explores the startup Cobwebs Technologies. The company, founded in 2015, has implemented a wide range of capabilities into one easy to use system. Unlike IBM i2 Analyst Notebook and Palantir Technologies Gotham, Cobwebs Technologies’ approach reduces user training to a few days. Most advanced functions such as generating a relationship map or analyzing a stream of social media content require no programming. Stephen E Arnold, producer of Dark Cyber and author of CyberOSINT: Next Generation Information Access, said: “Cobwebs Technologies simplification of the content acquisition and analytics process makes advanced technology within the reach of most law enforcement and intelligence personnel. Until now, most users of advanced intelligence systems needed some programming knowledge and specialized training in the software system. Cobwebs changes the game in a significant way.”
DarkCyber appears each Tuesday. A special four part series about Amazon’s policeware capabilities begins on October 30, 2018. The program will be available on the Beyond Search blog, YouTube, and Vimeo.
Remember our special four part series about Amazon policeware begins on October 30, 2018.
Kenny Toth, October 9, 2018
Google and the UK iPhone Data Matter: Do People Understand Digital Information?
October 8, 2018
I noted this ThomsonReuters’ real news story: “London Court Blocks Google Mass Legal Action over iPhone Data Collection.”
The main idea, as I understand it, was to accuse Google of obtaining details from iPhone users’ browsing data. In order to accomplish this access, Google sidestepped the iPhone privacy settings.
The court seems to think that the charge against Google did not hold water. (An interesting question to consider is, “Why?” What are the benefits of such collection?)
Richard Lloyd, the activist who brought the suit, allegedly said:
“Google’s business model is based on using personal data to target adverts to consumers and they must ask permission before using this data. The court accepted that people did not give permission in this case yet slammed the door shut on holding Google to account.”
This information complements the information in ABC.net’s story “Border Agents Can Demand Access to Your Digital Device — Here’s What to Say If It Happens to You.”
As we noted in a recent DarkCyber video, government authorities know that data on mobile devices can illuminate some types of activities. Access to digital data on mobile devices is not limited to one or two nations.
There are several schools of thought about obtaining and analyzing digital data. What is interesting to Beyond Search is that the value of usage data was known from the earliest days of the online industry.
That means that this ThomsonReuters story is reporting about activity which has been chugging along since the late 1960s. (How many years has ThomsonReuters been collecting and analyzing digital information? Think in terms of decades, gentle reader. Why? Digital data invites collection and analysis. It is part of the digital revolution.)
Beyond Search’s view is that analysis and decision making based on usage data are inherent in online activity. What is interesting is that it has taken about 50 years for those using online to begin to think about this difference between print media and online media are.
There are other aspects of online information which are not understood and documented; for example:
- The economics of online data. More expensive than print and more difficult to monetize; therefore, the “free” model and online ads (visible and invisible)
- The corrosive power of flows of digital information. Print accretes for high value information; online erodes high value information. Hence, there is not fix for fake news; the phenomenon goes with the territory.
- Provenance. It is hard, time consuming, expensive, and tedious, to figure out connections in printed information. Provenance in digital content becomes a plastic, easily manipulated characteristic. “Facts” are fluid when converted to zeros and ones.
- Collection. Digital data is easy to store and easier to analyze in both historical and real time. Print is a different kettle of fish.
There are other attributes as well. Over the years, I have tried to identify and explain these. Good luck finding those articles. I don’t plan on digging through my files to find the more than 80 article and columns I have written about digital information.
Why?
Old age and my general fatigue that people are surprised by what struck me as obvious more than half a century ago.
Are mobile phones transmitters and receivers? Duh.
Stephen E Arnold, October 8, 2018
Images Are Hot
October 8, 2018
Snapchat is reinventing itself or at least tweaking its high school science club management methods. That creates an opportunity to other picture sharing services.
Consider Pinterest.
We know that watching YouTube videos and fiddling with a mobile phone are the future of education. Enter Pinterest. This highly visual platform detailed some if its plans for advancement in a recent Social Media Today story, “Pinterest Adds Pinch to Zoom, Updated Visual Search.”
According to the story:
“We’ve made some improvements to the tool based on feedback we’ve heard from Pinners. We updated the button so it’s clearer, especially for people who are new to Pinterest, and moved it so it’s a little easier to reach. And it’s working too – in early tests of the improved button, nearly 70% more people used the visual search tool.”
While the possibilities of Pinterest becoming the leader of visual search, the information highway is not pothole free. Snapchat, Instagram, and other services beckon.
Will Snapchat convert the click to buy into revenue gold? And there is the often ignored image system at Amazon.
A picture may be worth a thousand words, but the trick is to shift the equation to making a picture worth a $1,000.
Patrick Roland, October 8, 2018
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