Call for probe into Google privacy changes

Are there....

any changes to the data?

They already have the ability to cross-reference the data. I don't think consolidating the 60 individual policies into 1 will change much, apart from making it easier for te user to understand what they are getting into.

You already access everything through a single ID and as you add more services to your ID, you currently get more privacy agreements, which are pretty much identical.

Several commentators have already looked at the draft privacy policy and have said that it doesn't really change anything - the wording is almost identical to the 2006 version, I believe.

If you look at the Google Dashboard for your account, you can already see, that they already pool all of the information through a single portal, so the structure is there to mine the data already.

By big_D on 27 Jan 2012

There are a couple of tweaked clauses

For example, the "Your Content" section has the added clause that Google can use your content not only to promote their own services (as it was before) but also "to develop new ones."

It also makes it explicitly clear that "this license continues even if you stop using our Services". Not huge changes, admittedly.

By craven5 on 27 Jan 2012

Bad Google

Within their terms and conditions, they claim the right to record data about your personal standing.

They suggest Operating System, Browser, IP address and probably a whole lot more with key sensing and remote monitoring and recording.
Why they need all of the data is criminal... you know...
Guilty until proven innocent!

By lenmontieth on 28 Jan 2012

Google getting more crooked than Facebook

Most Google users have never bothered to read Google's user agreements - if they bother to read it they would quit using ALL of Google services right away. And like some congressmen suspect, the "simplicity" story smells really bad - Google is simply stating that they simply want to manipulate user data more extensively to simply make sure they make the most profit out of it, screw your privacy, and laugh all the way to the bank. Period.
(and if you don't like it you will be much better off using alternative services that will not screw you in any way they can, as simple as that).

By arthur_cabot on 28 Jan 2012

Should this be legal?

First of all, I've just received an email from Google urging me to read their new privacy policy. I've taken a look and it appears to be a concise and friendly document, that even has references for some terms like IP-address that some people might not know. In short, it actually seems this document is meant to be read and understood by ordinary users. No matter what you think of its content, I think Google should be praised for its effort to make its privacy policy transparent. More companies should learn from its example.

A second, in my mind separate question, is whether it should be legal to have a privacy policy like this one. I think that as long as you can get out, it should be, and Google has shown to a larger degree than most other internet giants that it wants user data to be portable. The fact is, I don't pay directly for any of the Google products I happily use (Gmail, docs, reader, android ...). Instead, I know, I pay Google indirectly by allowing Google to send me advertisements based on personal information. Personally, I'm glad that this business model is legal and effective.

I believe Google might get around a lot of the criticism levelled against it, if it allowed regular users (not just bushinesses) to buy out of its advertisement program. Than everyone would be able to chose how they'd like to pay for Google Services (if at all), be it directly with money or indirectly by advertising.

By Woudenberg on 29 Jan 2012