Google Privacy Policy Will Track Users Across All Products

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Snipeye

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Google Privacy Policy Will Track Users Across All Products
1:00 PM - January 25, 2012 - By Jane McEntegart - Source : Google

Google this week announced changes to its privacy policy that will see the company track and consolidate user information across all Google services. This means that what you do on YouTube, for example, could be used to offer you targeted ads with other Google services. Though it might be advantageous to have Google inform you you're going to be late for that Google Calendar appointment based on your location and the level of traffic in that area, it's not hard to see how this information might make people uneasy. That said, Google insists that it will provide a better user-experience for those with Google accounts.

"Our new Privacy Policy makes clear that, if you?re signed in, we may combine information you've provided from one service with information from other services," Google said in a statement. "In short, we?ll treat you as a single user across all our products, which will mean a simpler, more intuitive Google experience."

These changes are only possible because of Google's decision to get consolidate over 60 of its individual policies into a main privacy policy. Before the change, Google had more than 70 privacy documents covering its different products.

Yesterday's announcement also included a few words on what Google isn't changing. The company said its commitment to "data liberation" remains unchanged," so users that wish to take their information elsewhere can do so, and assured users that their information wouldn't be shared with third parties without their permission save for exceptional circumstances, such as a court order.

"We try hard to be transparent about the information we collect, and to give you meaningful choices about how it is used?for example our Ads Preferences Manager enables you to edit the interest categories we advertise against or turn off certain Google ads altogether," the company said, before highlighting Google+'s Circles as an example of how Google builds privacy into its products from the beginning.

http://www.tomsguide.com/us/Google-Privacy-Policy-Changes-New-Track-Users-All-Sites,news-13987.html

Need to wait to see what the new Privacy Policy terms are, but...

On one hand, I can understand Google's decision based off of the article. +70 different privacy agreements is a nightmare to handle, especially when it comes to court cases and such (which agreement applies to this person for example). On the other hand, it'll merge all of my information into one account (which can be a plus too, youtube and gmail use the same account). Don't think there's an opt out, but some other users are saying you can (and cannot). I'm adopting a wait and see for more information before making a judgment.
 
Well, the court rooms are already busy as it is. Why give out another 10+ million court orders? Oh, because we're the government. We do what we want to do. Talking about legal costs, ghez.
 
FAQ
Should I take the time to read the new Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service?

Absolutely! Legal documents can make for dry reading, but these really matter. So whether you are new to Google or a long-time user, please take the time to get to know our practices. In case you’re pressed for time, here are answers to some of your questions.

What’s different about the new Privacy Policy?

First, we’ve rewritten the main Google Privacy Policy from top to bottom to be simpler and more readable. The new policy replaces more than 60 existing product-specific privacy documents. This all should make it easier for you to learn about what data we collect and how we use it.

Second, the new policy reflects our efforts to create one beautifully simple, intuitive user experience across Google. It makes clear that, if you have a Google Account and are signed in, we may combine information you’ve provided from one service with information from other services. In short, we can treat you as a single user across all our products.

What’s different about the new Google Terms of Service?

We’ve rewritten them, too—to make them more readable and to reduce the repetition and legalese. The terms explain more simply the legal terms associated with the use of our services, including how we treat content that users submit. We’ve also consolidated many of our terms, with most products now using the Google Terms of Service and dozens fewer products than before using additional or separate terms.

What’s staying the same with Google’s approach to privacy?

Our goal remains to provide you with as much transparency and choice as possible, and our privacy principles remain unchanged. That’s why we support products like Google Dashboard, Ads Preferences Manager, and other tools that help you understand and manage your data. Moreover, we never sell personal information or share it without your permission (other than in rare circumstances like valid legal requests).

What choices do I have to control how my information is used?

You still have choice and control. You don’t need to sign in to use many of our services, including Search, Maps and YouTube. If you’re signed in, you can still edit or turn off your Search history, switch Gmail chat to “off the record,” control the way Google tailors ads to your interests, use Incognito mode on Chrome, or use any of the other privacy tools we offer. The Google Dashboard is an excellent starting point if you want to understand the data associated with each product you use and control your personal data settings on Google.

Is Google collecting more information about me?

No, Google is not collecting more data about you. Our new policy simply makes it clear that we use data to refine and improve your experience on Google across the services you sign in to use. This is something we’ve already been doing and we plan to continue doing in the future so we can provide a simpler, more intuitive experience.

Does this change mean Google plans to disclose information about me publicly?

Absolutely not. You still have choice and control in what you share. Our new policy simply makes it clear that when you’re signed in, we use data to refine and improve your own personal experience on Google. We’re making our policy simpler with this change and we’re trying to be upfront about it.

What should I expect to see change as a result of this?

Over time you can expect to see better search results, ads and other content when you’re using Google services. A more consistent user experience across Google might mean that we give you more accurate spelling suggestions because you’ve typed them before. Or maybe we can tell you that you’ll be late for a meeting based on your location, your calendar and the local traffic conditions. Google users still have to do too much heavy lifting, and we want to do a better job of helping them.

We’ll continue to work hard to make sure that any innovation is balanced with the appropriate level of privacy and security for our users, as we promise in our Privacy Principles.

What if I don’t want to use Google under the new Privacy Policy and Terms of Service?

If you continue to use Google services after March 1, you’ll be doing so under the new Privacy Policy and Terms of Service. If you’d prefer to close your Google Account, you can follow the instructions in our help center. We remain committed to data liberation, so if you want to take your information elsewhere you can.

Under the new Privacy Policy and Terms of Service, will my private information in Google services remain private?

Yes. As before, we won’t share our users’ personal information without their permission except in very limited circumstances like a valid court order. For more detail, please read the section of the new Privacy Policy called “Information we share.”

Will Google sell my personal information to third parties?

No. We don’t sell our users’ personal information. It’s simply not how we operate.

Why are you keeping privacy notices for some products, like Books and Chrome, but not others?

In some cases, such as for financial services like Google Wallet, a product may be regulated by industry-specific privacy laws and require detailed descriptions of our practices. In others, like Chrome, we simply wanted to explain our privacy practices specific to those products in more detail. In these cases we chose to keep product-specific notices rather than clutter up the main Privacy Policy.

How can I see what Google knows about me?

Google Dashboard is a good start. It shows you what information is stored in your Google Account and enables you to change your privacy settings for many products from one central location.

We try hard to be transparent about the information we collect, and to give you meaningful choices about how it is used. To learn about more of the tools Google offers to help you manage your privacy, visit Good to Know.

http://www.google.com/policies/faq/
 
This reminds me of that old saying, 'If a company charges you for something, you're the consumer; if they're giving it to you for free, you're the product.' (eh, can't remember the exact saying; it's something along those lines)




I sold my soul to

Google, and all I got was

this gmail account.
 
And Youtube Ducttape. Google owns that so keyboard cat is theirs! *gasp!*
 
Snipeye said:
And Youtube Ducttape. Google owns that so keyboard cat is theirs! *gasp!*
Click to expand...

actually no:

Section 6, subsection C of the YouTube ToS:
For clarity, you retain all of your ownership rights in your Content. However, by submitting Content to YouTube, you hereby grant YouTube a worldwide, non-exclusive, royalty-free, sublicenseable and transferable license to use, reproduce, distribute, prepare derivative works of, display, and perform the Content in connection with the Service and YouTube's (and its successors' and affiliates') business, including without limitation for promoting and redistributing part or all of the Service (and derivative works thereof) in any media formats and through any media channels. You also hereby grant each user of the Service a non-exclusive license to access your Content through the Service, and to use, reproduce, distribute, display and perform such Content as permitted through the functionality of the Service and under these Terms of Service. The above licenses granted by you in video Content you submit to the Service terminate within a commercially reasonable time after you remove or delete your videos from the Service. You understand and agree, however, that YouTube may retain, but not display, distribute, or perform, server copies of your videos that have been removed or deleted. The above licenses granted by you in user comments you submit are perpetual and irrevocable.
Click to expand...

The uploader still owns it, but basically licensed it to Google without restriction.
 
Way to take something not serious, seriously reflex. Moodkiller.
 
EU Asks Google to Delay Policy Changes for Investigation

EU Asks Google to Delay Policy Changes for Investigation
3:00 AM - February 4, 2012 by Jane McEntegart - source: via PCWorld

EU regulators have asked Google to step back while they conduct an investigation.

Google's recent announcement that it plans to consolidate more than 60 of its individual policies into a main privacy policy. Prior to this change, Google had more than 70 privacy documents covering its different products. However, many users took issue with Google's new policy, which the search giant explained would track users across all of the Google products they used and treat them as a single user.

Google insists that very little has changed, that they're not collecting more data about us and the new policy "simply makes it clear" that the company uses data to refine and improve our Google experience. "This is something we have already been doing for a long time," said Betsy Masiello, Policy Manager at Google. "We're making things simpler and we?re trying to be upfront about it. Period."

However, despite these protests from Google, European Union regulators have asked the search giant to put the planned changes, originally scheduled to take effect on March 1, on hold. Reuters reports that The Article 29 Working Party, which is an independent body made up of a representative from the data protection authority of each EU Member State, has written to Google and asked for time to investigate whether the proposals sufficiently protect users' personal data.

"On behalf of the Article 29 Working Party I would like to inform you that we are aware of the upcoming change in your privacy policy.

Given the wide range of services you offer, and popularity of these services, changes in your privacy policy may affect many citizens in most or all of the EU member states.

We wish to check the possible consequences for the protection of the personal data of these citizens in a coordinated procedure. We have therefore asked the French data protection authority, the CNIL, to take the lead. The CNIL has kindly accepted this task and will be your point of contact for the data protection authorities in the EU.

In light of the above, we call for a pause in the interests of ensuring that there can be no misunderstanding about Google's commitments to information rights of their users and EU citizens, until we have completed our analysis."

Google has not yet confirmed that it will put its planned changes to its policies on hold. However, the company did say in a statement to PCWorld that it would be happy to discuss the changes with any data protection authority that has concerns between now and March 1, when the changes are set to take effect.

"We briefed most of the members of the working party in the weeks leading up to our announcement," Google told PCWorld. "None of them expressed substantial concerns at the time -- and we've now started the largest communication to users in our history. The changes do not come into place until March 1, and we're happy to talk any [data protection authority] that has questions through our changes between now and then."

Meanwhile, Google competitor Microsoft is taking full advantage of the situation. The company this week ran full-page advertisements in newspapers, highlighting the change and inviting users to try its rival products.
 
My understanding of this was that they're not actually collecting more information.

They've always scanned gmail emails for key words to use in directing advertisements for example.

The difference (again, just as I understand it) now is that they are taking the information they've always collected, and consolidating the databases so they can make deeper and more salient connections regarding individual preferences.

It would *appear* more intrusive, but if I'm going to have to deal with advertisements anyway, I'd kinda rather they be something I might be interested in seeing.

In the grander scheme though, I think this is still peanuts compared to a company like Facebook. Afterall, Google = "Don't be evil" while Facebook is apparently "The Hacker Way"...

Which incidentally is completely ridiculous. They apparently think they've invented scrumming and are super cool for doing so. Something tons of developers were doing before the term "scrumming" was even coined. Just like they think they invented anything at all when they're essentially Friendster but got lucky network capacity had improved enough to handle the traffic by the time they came around... unlike Friendster.

Anyway, I digress :facewall: ;)
 
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