Google Voice voicemails appearing in public search results
By Nilay Patel 
posted Oct 19th 2009 10:42AM
posted Oct 19th 2009 10:42AM
P.S. - Google Voice transcription accuracy really falls off a cliff when it's listening to muffled audio, doesn't it?
Update: Google says it's changed how shared messages are indexed and made available to public searches, so we're hoping this was just a one-time thing.
[Via Boy Genius Report]
Wow Google, I hope this is a joke... I used to be pretty hesitant about letting the big G have all my info but I've gotten a bit lazy recently. This makes you think twice.
Seriously, Google should know by now that people are a little uneasy about them having so much information. If data security isn't number one for every project proposal, they're doing something wrong.
As the reply in the google groups link says, this doesn't appear to be a mistake. These are voicemails that you shared. Much like a shared item in google reader, a shared voicemail is viewable by everyone you chose. They decided to index these in the search. With the backlash I think they are taking them down.
Err, google support link.
Vincent Paquet [Google Employee] @ 9/28/09 :
"Since the initial idea behind posting a voicemail, was precisely to share it with others, we did not restrict crawling of those messages that users post on the web, but we can certainly understand that users would want to make them public on their sites but not necessarily searchable directly outside of their own website. We made a change to prevent those to be crawled so only the site owner can decide to index them.
Thanks
Vincent'
http://www.google.com/support/forum/p/voice/thread?tid=7625b775a05e9401
https://www.google.com/voice/fm/05849613425095728107/AHwOX_BahTumCscQTl_IgyrirTBLIh8BTG4tocHrd5-40AUTE8HAOH1zJ40mc7RxrUJcnBtgoURt43_SAmx8SwDmsM4XAStY1RtML9NShxdgl5R6zu9Yzclcb33rw3g4GiYrL7J-PhZVY0RuRnHt6zt5qB59A40j7w
If Google wants to make my private into public, they are well within their right.
Wuv you, Big G.
Nah - it just reminds you once again that Google is keeping a copy of anything and everything you do in regards to it's products and services.
This can be a very scary deal or you can look at it as them archiving the whole of society so we can look back in a 100 years and see how F'ed up everything actually is today.
http://siteexplorer.search.yahoo.com/search?p=https://www.google.com/voice/fm/&y=Explore+URL&fr=sfp
more recordings from yahoo's index!
Guys there is a reason its a closed invite. Its called beta (In the real sense of the word, not Google's) testing. That is what Google Voice is and that is what Google Wave is: beta....actually GW is more of an alpha right now. If either were ready for prime time you wouldn't be seeing 10,000 people being given accounts once every 5 months or something of the sort. I got my G Voice invite 2 weeks ago after putting the request in back in June. Google's search is tied into everything. Do you guys really think accidents like this aren't going to happen? As long as they don't ignore it and resolve the issue ASAP, *shrugs*
And all those who are freaking out. You do know what Google's ultimate goal and mission statement is right? They are attempting to get reliant info to YOU. That info may from from all kinds of different sources both online and off, and that will eventually include text massages in Google Voice. This isn't some nefarious plot on the part of Google to screw everyone. If you want relivant data Google needs to 1. Be able to access the data sources. 2. Needs to know what you are looking for. To do this it needs to know your habits and your data. As long as Google doesn't start dicking around with this in a manor that is more concerned with profits over its users I personally have no issues with Google.
https://www.google.com/voice/fm/06974281305002571178/AHwOX_BZv6FHmLoE8u1sr0JsFLsFUv2j_ij1GTLU__9K0x0ta3_OuVxudk0T4oS90mMVyJKZnRrZSupdMLUW-pN92R09lEfFQz1RPTFlfhVm3ZtpOJ-DY2rmafTgzRU7c6uZ54SlgKXCF4ZXDAxDR9EsXiRYULexzA
EVERYONE PANIC.
http://www.google.com/support/forum/p/voice/thread?tid=7625b775a05e9401&hl=en
Way to ruin the fun with your fact checking.
This is my favorite voice result
https://www.google.com/voice/fm/06974281305002571178/AHwOX_BZv6FHmLoE8u1sr0JsFLsFUv2j_ij1GTLU__9K0x0ta3_OuVxudk0T4oS90mMVyJKZnRrZSupdMLUW-pN92R09lEfFQz1RPTFlfhVm3ZtpOJ-DY2rmafTgzRU7c6uZ54SlgKXCF4ZXDAxDR9EsXiRYULexzA
https://www.google.com/voice/fm/06974281305002571178/AHwOX_Ag2RPpE-DKpodoDR70FvHiWThgLIwDsNROITF1Yw3bqTTWVxSiQi6Qdnd8YHhSLThzSc8Xhm3FCwJBwXcbZQGcHItjsJldHsANl_80h2LVLAmPALkn9yTyi9-hlTPW4xLJ_sL3Q0loLv9fyM5A_edBzkwmMA
Great "gadget" article right thar.
You sir are ridiculous.
do no evil?
I was just thinking to myself if MS or Apple did something there would be outrage but, since it's google I just felt a little something die inside... -_-
That was the hamster, Mister Slave.
Its a beta (In the real sense of the word.) Its called a code SNAFU pure and simple. There is no evil here. There is no good. Its a SNAFU. As for the comment on if this was Apple or MS....yes there would be an outrage because the other side would be spouting BS like "SEE PROOF THAT MS (or APPLE) SUCKS!"
While the rest of us would realize someone screwed up along the way.
We aren't talking not backing up your server here. We are talking about a closed beta having a glitch that was fixed. *shrugs*
So far GV hasn't transcripted a message that's anywhere near what they said. So I don't really mind if people read my gibberish.
Well, all and good, but you can actually play back the audio that goes with the bad transcription...
This is what relinquishing your rivacy feels like...aah, the glory of it all.
Isn't this effectively in the license agreement when you sign up ? I thought with google, you're agreeing to allow them to collect all sorts of data on your activities. No? Why do you think there is so much ad revenue? ;)
Reading the transcripts while listening is hilarious.
I especially love this one.
https://www.google.com/voice/fm/06974281305002571178/AHwOX_BZv6FHmLoE8u1sr0JsFLsFUv2j_ij1GTLU__9K0x0ta3_OuVxudk0T4oS90mMVyJKZnRrZSupdMLUW-pN92R09lEfFQz1RPTFlfhVm3ZtpOJ-DY2rmafTgzRU7c6uZ54SlgKXCF4ZXDAxDR9EsXiRYULexzA
Comic gold.
happy shopping to you too, my good spammer friend!
I think this would be my favorite:
https://www.google.com/voice/fm/06974281305002571178/AHwOX_Ag2RPpE-DKpodoDR70FvHiWThgLIwDsNROITF1Yw3bqTTWVxSiQi6Qdnd8YHhSLThzSc8Xhm3FCwJBwXcbZQGcHItjsJldHsANl_80h2LVLAmPALkn9yTyi9-hlTPW4xLJ_sL3Q0loLv9fyM5A_edBzkwmMA
That Michael Collins always was a thorn in my side too
this one is awesome
https://www.google.com/voice/fm/05849613425095728107/AHwOX_BahTumCscQTl_IgyrirTBLIh8BTG4tocHrd5-40AUTE8HAOH1zJ40mc7RxrUJcnBtgoURt43_SAmx8SwDmsM4XAStY1RtML9NShxdgl5R6zu9Yzclcb33rw3g4GiYrL7J-PhZVY0RuRnHt6zt5qB59A40j7w
This is bad, I'm on android...hopefully my contact, web history, etc. aren't publicly available too.
This is exactly why I stay well clear of Android and all other Google products with the exception of search which I don't log into. Google have no regard for your privacy and you'd have to be crazy to give them access to your:
- email
- voicemail
- location
- contacts
- search history
- documents
- pictures
- medical records
Do we need a company that has no regard for privacy and has proven that it's more than happy to hang on to your data and hand it over to governments with access to so much personal information? No.
Did you even read that these were shared voicemails? Tools.
https://www.google.com/voice/fm/06974281305002571178/AHwOX_Ag2RPpE-DKpodoDR70FvHiWThgLIwDsNROITF1Yw3bqTTWVxSiQi6Qdnd8YHhSLThzSc8Xhm3FCwJBwXcbZQGcHItjsJldHsANl_80h2LVLAmPALkn9yTyi9-hlTPW4xLJ_sL3Q0loLv9fyM5A_edBzkwmMA
another good one.
isn't this just a result of people making their voicemail public and searchable?
Yes. You have to manually post the link to a public website.
Yeah why would Google think it was a good idea to put up those voicemails? They didn't think there would be private info in them? Like this one:
https://www.google.com/voice/fm/14706060440924808246/AHwOX_AeiT_HOnin1lL3VknE_Lshxpu7mqp0iKbIz2jW338YB1AOej7KCSzx-pSoPEZGT6WANJafjiJjfj6XJzaYHo-Aseg_s07Dnf3rYa1MjcsuyOkvBWh0H7TYN3BWow5y8D4Bx7Te1vs3197If5orq0bEE1yn9w
"this is Nick mentally calling"...lol
I listened to some of these WTF son are very threatening
OMFG, I cant stop laughing at these!
Regardless of whether or not it is a mistake, I am somewhat disturbed how easy it must be to share the messages...most likely inadvertently, which appears to be the case given the nature of some of these messages.
BTW, these messages confirm what I have suspected for some time after reviewing my google voice mail transcriptions - google voice is the new Newton.
"Hi Steve. We have lunch scheduled with xxx on Wednesday. Will you be attending?"
Google SMS to me:
"Hi thief. We have lurch said you yelled with xxx on when day. Well you be pretending?"
Sweet. What a time saver! :)
Dude, don't even try to pretend you didn't steal it. Lurch told us who you were yelling with.
Google Voice is just trying to compete with the guys form textsfromlastnight.com .
Since the initial idea behind posting a voicemail, was precisely to share it with others, we did not restrict crawling of those messages that users post on the web, but we can certainly understand that users would want to make them public on their sites but not necessarily searchable directly outside of their own website. We made a change to prevent those to be crawled so only the site owner can decide to index them.
Thanks
Vincent - Google Employee
Problem solved.
sweet jesus, don't let 4chan hear about this...
Way too late. There was a thread on this early last night.
Its interesting you can actually listen to their voicemails. The onomatopoeia guy is pretty funny.
Gotta watch out for that drunk monkey and the reality...
https://www.google.com/voice/fm/13418109598078281795/AHwOX_AtuVWE-1BTPAft-98LVo1lwr9Nnvj3CLwprkhwicG8QqlcsAjvMTrSkhc9hzrXRdhCUiIK3pkrWUmoBS1U5bvgRlM51U1B6ewXjR7oqvw9xGIEa6HMtxWQjAr455PW0JF60kcdhJ_OxeJjFjwWfACfkpEi3A
Wow, can I get a job doing these test messages? I want to make Google $$ on something that easy.
What the hell is that!? I'm guessing this Thach Nyugen is making money on that!
WTF is a drunk monkey? This some weird stuff.
From the makers of android.
We now publish your voicemails publicly.
Even android fanboys don't know what to say.
I ... I actually confess.... My android flame has been put out by this........................ :'(
I wonder how many phonecalls from lonely nerds that poor "Kim Sexy" will get today...
https://www.google.com/voice/fm/15240755035675860506/AHwOX_C5TD2m-HkHSI10zYhZ8W8vuslys4OzaKmsCgG_pbmSwqypU9az3ImLlkTdwO828v9ttzigFsFSmzdVTDcCTH3VVqyWdvHKxyK_8z7i5OMkYibVwSbzyI9BsMKbQ7XSoh8lQ7e1muc-cBy10e6mskfrWaoq4w
https://www.google.com/voice/fm/13418109598078281795/AHwOX_DM4yfetGW8mgEnkg6i6IcNLMI5F4PdiGRy24_c5PTJJC4WgpU_ONO6oK3Y49MXPnOnFx8W-Yh0EhyJQkkTtgaBmb7NB7b5_zalVf2h4TRrdxXNgUxP5gZQIVusRzW7ncco63I-2FFYqyvEX-TfCMsCaZqG9g
Well done!
Sweet!
Why would anybody want to make his/her voice mail messages public in the first place? I can't think of a single reason to do that.
For the same reason people make pictures of their drunken romps public on myspace, facebook, twitter, etc.
Everything they do is so awesome that it is a crime to keep others from enjoying their awesomeness!
I've received a few hilarious voicemails from people that drunk dialed the wrong number...
Fortunately most of my Google Voice messages are from people with heavy accents, so the transcripts are complete nonsense.
There is a button to turn off that feature.
^^ plz send an invite :) pa1.annoy.nymous@gmail.com
Oh and if you are uber paranoid you can turn off the transcribe option as well. Issue resolved. But this isn't an issue. It was a mistake by someone that got resolved.
these people published they voicemails... last time i checked what does publish mean?
Having Google search publicly posted voicemails / transcriptions seems pretty reasonable, and with the recent change to require the site owner to explicitly enable indexing of that type of content (at least for Google, probably won't matter for Yahoo / Bing / other searches) it would seem that there are no reasonable objections.
However, there remain two unanswered questions:
1) How difficult to predict are the URLs for these voicemails, and are they accessible to other users if they have not been explicitly "shared" in some way? (I haven't seen anything in the Google Voice settings that talks about sharing or making voicemails public - perhaps this is in the display for a single voicemail?)
2) When/if a voicemail is "deleted" are any previous URLs to the content actually invalidated? (index cache of course may remain for quite some further time)
It is unlikely that anyone outside Google/Grand Central could really speak with any authority to the first question, although some experimentation is possible. The second question should be reasonably easy to answer, but as I have already deleted all my voicemails, would require more work than I really want to put in on this issue.
@alex
I don't think people here understand. ALL messages are public/accessible by anyone. Google thinks it's okay because it doesn't index them unless the link is posed on a website that gets indexed.
The voicemails are protected by having a huge string of letters and numbers in their URL.
Though truth be told, any and all voicemails on the system can be found by merely brute forcing it.
The coolest set of voicemails is from a Christian missionary doing work in Mali. Look for numbers that start with +88.
omg this is not good lmfao
i use google voice a lot
bahahaha
Uh... what is this stuff about "sharing"? I have google voice and I see no setting related to "sharing" a message. I'm assuming that all are unshared by default, but I sure want to make sure. I have checked everywhere I can find and I see nothing about sharing.
check out http://www.googlevoicemails.com - it's a collection of voicemails
Well if your friends have no teeth and slur every word, yeah, it'll be a crappy transcription. I'm actually suprised how good it has worked for me so far. If you have a brain at all and know the general topic someone is talking about you can pretty much figure out exactly what they're saying.
I love the "Go go [gadget] voice mail" and "private invoice barney system" in the top search result.
I contacted someone whose voicemail was on listed in my search. He was not pleased as it covered his business...
https://www.google.com/voice/fm/06974281305002571178/AHwOX_Ag2RPpE-DKpodoDR70FvHiWThgLIwDsNROITF1Yw3bqTTWVxSiQi6Qdnd8YHhSLThzSc8Xhm3FCwJBwXcbZQGcHItjsJldHsANl_80h2LVLAmPALkn9yTyi9-hlTPW4xLJ_sL3Q0loLv9fyM5A_edBzkwmMA
Everyones been so cool with letting google store all their personal information, all their emails, all their phone calls, all their voice mails, their latitude location, and the comment I always heard was, nothings going to go wrong, don't be so paranoid. Well, heres example 1 of 483,487 ways all your private information *will* end up on the internet.
I love google's stuff, but I wouldn't dream of storing anything I didn't want the world knowing on their servers.
They're in Bing too. Great seo comparison between which search engines crawl what's behind robots.txt. Or did google just update their index manually and the other search engines merely haven't updated their entire index yet?
There's definitely a value behind indexing content blocked in robots.txt