On the case of data transparency…or is it in the casing?

I wanted to just highlight some interesting discussions of late around user data, advertising and transparency.

First is a great article last week with Om Malik’s take on FaceBook Connect and then Saul Hansell yesterday on Google’s blog around the customization of search results.

As I think Saul points out well, transparency is a good thing, but understand that you may not like what you see when you learn how the sausage is made.

Convenience has its price, can you handle the truth...and how far do you trust others to handle it for you?(Cue stunned look Tom Cruise and Demi Moore's faces).