Google's New Privacy Policy - Too Important to "Dismiss"

A distinct change to Google’s privacy policy, will affect millions of people, and you’re probably one of them. A vast collection of free services reside under the Google umbrella, including Gmail, Chrome web browser, YouTube, Blogger and more. One goal of the new privacy policy, proposed for March 1, 2012, is to remove the separate policies, and cover all the products with the same agreement. This means Google can take the information gathered from all the products you use, and compile it into one customer profile. They will collect basic contact information, and record other data, such as your search queries, e-mails, location and computer configuration. Concerning the policy update, Google states, “Our new policy covers multiple products and features, reflecting our desire to create one beautifully simple and intuitive experience across Google.” If you have ever searched for a product, and noticed ads for related products suddenly show up on web sites you browse, you just witnessed an example of how Google uses the information they gather.

In an age of computer hackers and identity theft, it’s understandable that many have feelings of trepidation over this privacy policy. You will not have the option to “opt out” of the new policy, which is another issue that’s been heavily debated. Although Google accounts provide some options for tailoring privacy settings, the casual user may not know how to limit the flow of personal information. Frida Ghitis, author of the CNN opinion piece “Google knows too much about you,” looked for an easy way to prevent Google from saving personal information. However, she stated, “There was no such button.” Deleting information is not a guaranteed solution either, since the data may still be stored on servers for days, or even months after you hit “Delete.”

The broad area covered by the policy raises concerns for many people, including consumer advocate groups and lawmakers. Recently, the Electronic Privacy Information Center (EPIC) filed suit against the U.S. Federal Trade Commission as an attempt to halt the changes proposed by Google. James Cantor of The New York Times reported that the European Union (E.U.) is investigating the new policy to ensure it does not conflict with data protection laws. The E.U. asked Google to delay implementing the privacy changes until their inquiry is complete. Google executives also met with members of the United States congress on February 2, 2012. This came on the heels of a lengthy letter submitted to the lawmakers on January 30, 2012. Both the letter and the meeting however failed to dispel all the concerns. In an interview with Tech Live, Congresswoman Mary Bono Mack commented, “I think Google is trying very hard to calm a nervous public about what they're doing.”

Google asserts their basic privacy principles haven’t changed, and reiterate that they recognize the serious responsibility of protecting the information in their care. On their Public Policy Blog, you will find several posts defending the new policy and attempting to clear up misconceptions. Nevertheless, it’s always prudent to take steps to guard your personal data. First, you should read Google’s new privacy policy in detail. In Google’s favor, they worded the policy very simply, so you won’t be confused by any long legalese. Next, read the answers to “Frequently Asked Questions” about the update, because they focus on specific points of concern. Finally, familiarize yourself with Google’s privacy tools, and follow the instructions to review and edit your privacy settings. It’s easy to become complacent, but your information is out there, and when this privacy policy moves ahead, it could all be in one place.