Just kidding. Don’t switch to Bing. Google is, all-in-all, the superior product, with its fancy add-ons, filtered searches, and targeted advertisements that let me know that they know about the weird lump on my Achilles tendon about which I just asked the Internet.
But the new privacy policy that the Internet search engine giant announced this week merits at least a glance, because Google’s new information-gathering policies might make you want to change the way you browse.
Google announced this new policy last week. It is to set in on March 1, 2012.
The reasons behind it are, in their own words:
When you share information with us… we can make those 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.
It will get this information from information voluntarily entered into the Google profile. More discreetly, it will also gather information from searches, cookies and e-mails. Google also stalks its users motions when they use location-based Google services.
On one hand, it’s a simplification. All the Google services that are in bed together–including GMail, Google+, and yes, even YouTube–are united under this snuggly blanket policy. And actually, not that much has been changed. Google has been giving information to advertisers all along. This policy just consolidates the policies for several services so they’re in one place, and it puts it in language that anyone can understand.
Consequentially, now that everyone can read it, not everyone is happy with it. The Internet shitstorm was inevitably rough. Exactly who can access information, and what happens when it is deleted, are both touchy subjects. And the European Union has even asked Google’s executives to delay the changes. Meanwhile, Microsoft took advantage of the fear this Wednesday by launching a new advertising campaign called “Putting People First.”
Google defended itself on Thursday in front of members of Congress, citing that Google will still give its users options to keep their information from being stored, which are very clearly outlined in the privacy policy (foremost among these: don’t sign in, or don’t use Google.)
All of this is for the optimization of the Google user experience. The search engine wants to take the data it collects from its users and create profiles of them so it can more accurately cater services to them. For now, it seems Google has a tendency to be wrong (Google thinks that I am an 18 to 24-year-old man who enjoys video games and personal fitness). Eventually, though, it should start to correct itself.
Google’s privacy policy can be dangerous if you’re a cocaine kingpin using Google Maps to make your way to a drug deal, or if you are cheating on your spouse with an OKCupid profile. But it can also be dangerous, if more subtly so, to the average information-seeker. Search engine optimization is a way of showing you only the information you want to see.
So yes, Google is simplifying and consolidating the Internet for its users. But at what cost?
You say that don’t switch to Bing, and then start listing all the privacy issues Google has. Google has complete profile with most intimate details of your online activities now, and you still think one is kidding when talking about switching? Heh…people are strange, nowaday. 😉 Good luck with feeding the Google monster.