I'll never understand how big companies fail to understand the PR implications of various actions that are obviously going to piss customers off.
Cisco sure had its blinders on when it basically made users of its home routers agree to not view pornography on the internet. You can read the full story here.
Essentially because the router(s) connects to Cisco's cloud service, they feel they have the right to set restrictions on Internet activity you can engage in using a Cisco router.
As per Cisco's user agreement:
Cisco responded to customer anger in a blog post which you can read here.
Cisco's response was basically 'Oops, we forget to tell everyone your router can be opted-out of our cloud service if required and then you can look at porn or whatever you want.'
In addition, they seem to have removed people's ability to comment on the blog entry (very bad etiquette if you ask me).
Anyway, tons of people are now saying they will not hook any Cisco product up to their computer because they are worried that Cisco will suddenly become an Internet 'cop' watching them at all times through their router.
I'm unclear as to whether Cisco was actually blocking people's traffic, merely monitoring traffic, simply espousing legalese they had no plan to enforce, or what the deal actually was. But that's the problem with Cisco not having thought through the PR ramifications in this move.
Whether you are for or against porn is beside the point. The point is who the heck does Cisco think it is to tell you what you can and cannot access on the Internet? Look at the infographic at the end of this post to see how absurd it is to try and restrict people from Internet porn.
Personally I don't use Cisco products so it doesn't matter to me (I'm more of a Netgear guy), but a quick look at Twitter shows you the damage they are doing to their brand (there is a steady stream of negative tweets towards Cisco).
WikiLeaks @wikileaks
Cisco locks customers out of their own routers, lets them back if they agree to being spied upon http://boingboing.net/2012/07/03/cisco-locks-customers-out-of-t.html https://wlfriends.org/
ReadWriteWeb @RWW
New Cisco Connect Cloud Enrages Users Over Privacy Issueshttp://ow.ly/1l7P4f
derickbailey @derickbailey
#ProTip throw away your Cisco / Linksys routers: RT @blowdart: I guess my next router won't be a Cisco or Linksys. http://bit.ly/NAOXU1
Mark Goodge @MarkGoodge
Do not buy Cisco or Linksys. Repeat: Do NOT buy Cisco or Linksys
Miguel de Icaza @migueldeicaza
Cisco contributes a how-to guide: the complete guide to get your products boycotted
matt blaze @mattblaze
Congratulations to Cisco for finding a way to have your home network spy on you as much as your smartphone does.
Essentially because the router(s) connects to Cisco's cloud service, they feel they have the right to set restrictions on Internet activity you can engage in using a Cisco router.
As per Cisco's user agreement:
You agree not to use or permit the use of the Service: (i) to invade another's privacy; (ii) for obscene, pornographic, or offensive purposes; (iii) to infringe another's rights, including but not limited to any intellectual property rights; (iv) to upload, email or otherwise transmit or make available any unsolicited or unauthorized advertising, promotional materials, spam, junk mail or any other form of solicitation; (v) to transmit or otherwise make available any code or virus, or perform any activity, that could harm or interfere with any device, software, network or service (including this Service); or (vi) to violate, or encourage any conduct that would violate any applicable law or regulation or give rise to civil or criminal liability.
Cisco responded to customer anger in a blog post which you can read here.
Cisco's response was basically 'Oops, we forget to tell everyone your router can be opted-out of our cloud service if required and then you can look at porn or whatever you want.'
In addition, they seem to have removed people's ability to comment on the blog entry (very bad etiquette if you ask me).
Anyway, tons of people are now saying they will not hook any Cisco product up to their computer because they are worried that Cisco will suddenly become an Internet 'cop' watching them at all times through their router.
I'm unclear as to whether Cisco was actually blocking people's traffic, merely monitoring traffic, simply espousing legalese they had no plan to enforce, or what the deal actually was. But that's the problem with Cisco not having thought through the PR ramifications in this move.
Whether you are for or against porn is beside the point. The point is who the heck does Cisco think it is to tell you what you can and cannot access on the Internet? Look at the infographic at the end of this post to see how absurd it is to try and restrict people from Internet porn.
Personally I don't use Cisco products so it doesn't matter to me (I'm more of a Netgear guy), but a quick look at Twitter shows you the damage they are doing to their brand (there is a steady stream of negative tweets towards Cisco).
WikiLeaks @wikileaks
Cisco locks customers out of their own routers, lets them back if they agree to being spied upon http://boingboing.net/2012/07/03/cisco-locks-customers-out-of-t.html https://wlfriends.org/
ReadWriteWeb @RWW
New Cisco Connect Cloud Enrages Users Over Privacy Issueshttp://ow.ly/1l7P4f
derickbailey @derickbailey
#ProTip throw away your Cisco / Linksys routers: RT @blowdart: I guess my next router won't be a Cisco or Linksys. http://bit.ly/NAOXU1
Mark Goodge @MarkGoodge
Do not buy Cisco or Linksys. Repeat: Do NOT buy Cisco or Linksys
Miguel de Icaza @migueldeicaza
Cisco contributes a how-to guide: the complete guide to get your products boycotted
matt blaze @mattblaze
Congratulations to Cisco for finding a way to have your home network spy on you as much as your smartphone does.
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