Google’s new privacy policy: what has changed and what you can do about it
March 3, 2012 | Source: Ars Technica
Google’s broad new privacy policy went into effect March 1.
“The main change is for users with Google Accounts,” Google said at the time of its January announcement. “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.” European regulators are claiming it violates data protection laws,
The updated policy describes how Google collects device information, search queries, cellphone-related data, location information, and collects and stores information on users’ devices with the use of HTML5 technology, browser storage, application data caches, and cookies and other “anonymous identifiers.”
What can you do? Most browsers today have private surfing modes that you can select. You can visit Google’s “Data Liberation Front” website for instructions in exporting data out of Google products. The Electronic Frontier Foundation also has instructions on removing your Google search history from your account.
However, even this is not as simple as it sounds. Disabling Web History in your Google account “will not prevent Google from gathering and storing this information and using it for internal purposes,” the EFF notes.
Comments (9)
by tori
Let’s go to use Bing, privacy matters.
by Joe
Let them do it, I use 2 browsers and 2 different log ins. That is just for sanity, it helps me keep all similar items together, but also works for privacy ;-)
If somebody is watching me I do not think this will help them more then the micro drones we all love.
by Zingo
Goodbye Google, Hello Bing.
by Spikosauropod
Bing is a species of garden blight, not a search engine.
by Spikosauropod
Privacy?
I’m not even sure what that means any more.
I figure I am doing well by not installing a web cam on my monitor. At least hackers will not be able to see me undress.
by Giulio Prisco
I am not going to take any special measure and I will continue to use Google’s services like I have always done, because I have always assumed that everything we say or do on Google, Facebook etc. is monitored by spammers, scammers and governments. If I want privacy, I keep away from Google and Facebook and use non mainstream email services with good old PGP encryption.
by SWP
Seriously? Wtf Amara. I would have thought you of all people would see past the scare-mongering here. All Google is doing is allowing itself to use all the information it gathers for one purpose, instead of using it for little bits. Google already gathered your information when you searched, when you looked up a youtube video, when you posted a G+ update, when you searched on Google Maps, etc. The only thing that’s changed now is that they can pool all that data together, and use it for something else – namely, improving the service for YOU (and of course, advertising)
by Editor
SWP: Thanks for your input. This subject is of interest and worth discussing, we believe. Our news posts do not necessarily reflect our personal opinions.
by Peter Simmons
SWP ‘… use it for something else’ precisely, and you don’t have a say what that is. Anyone who thinks mega US corporations are fluffy bunnies wanting only to serve us is dangerously naive.