Thursday, January 26, 2012

Google Scores A+ with new Privacy Policy

Google has set an example by being transparent in how it manages the privacy of personal information it collects from the use of its services. There is hue and cry over some aspects of its disclosures such as the need for an opt out option and the use of personal information for targeted advertisement, but we need to appreciate that GOOGLE with 70% market share did not have to write a simple policy which all its users could read and understand, but it did. It set an example which other firms do not. Let us commend and not condemn Google for this historic act.

Google says it intent is to use information shared with it to make its services even better – to show you more relevant search results and ads, to help you connect with people or to make sharing with others quicker and easier. They do not sell this information to third parties. Let us be fair, free services need to be paid for in some manner. Advertising is a great way to keep services free.
We should also appreciate steps taken in the right direction, so that other can follow suit without governments turning to regulation or censorship.

2 comments:

  1. Do you have stock in Google or just paid to write this? A+!? Seriously? Dumbing down policy does not make us safer. Making it easier to read, good thing. Removing bits that were preventing the diaspora of your information they held on you from being spread, bad thing. Google is making headway into corporate environments. Do you really want the fact you just looked at CHEETAH FALLS FROM TREE videos on Youtube crossing the line from personal to non-personal work related use of Google's offerings? Because the way it is written, they can share that across all of their platforms, not just on your YouTube profile page. Let me know how that works out for you.

    Stick with security, the legal and corporate implications of this policy change are well beyond your understanding if you honestly believe this is A+ material.

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  2. I'd have to agree with Anonymous. The new policy is really not doing much for privacy, its doing a lot for simplicity, but not privacy.

    And don't try to justify it by saying the service is free. Thats the business model they chose, but its totally unfair that my privacy should be compromised just because its free. That was not what we signed up for, and the lack of an Opt out option just makes it much worse.


    Bad move, Google.

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