Google has announced it will be combining the majority of its products under one privacy policy, allowing a “simpler, more intuitive” experience for its users.
As an example, Google says that it will take into consideration the context of searches based on the user information and activities. If you are an import car enthusiast, Google will skew the results of a search for “Jaguar” towards cars instead of the large cat. With Google Docs or Gmail, auto correct might suggest spellings based on prior content you had created.
According to a video created by Google, “It may even be able to tell you when you’ll be late for a meeting based on your location, your calendar and local weather conditions. All of which means we’re not just keeping your private stuff private. We’re making it more useful to you in your daily life too.”
It is unclear how the new policy will allow Google to cross-pollinate information, as the company has already been doing so for some time.
Executive director of the Electronic Privacy Information Center (EPIC), Mark Rotenberg, is worried the changes will lead to a further erosion of user privacy.
“These privacy policy consolidations have always led to a lowering of overall privacy standards,” he said. “That was the exact experience with the Gmail privacy policy when Google Buzz was introduced.”
It will be interesting to see how Google’s plans will unfold, and what kind of consumer protection backlash the company will have to deal with when they do.
Sarelson Law Firm – Miami litigation attorneys