Google’s latest move to better integrate its services is coming under fire from the European Union and online privacy advocates.
If you have used Google lately, you have likely seen the little banner popping up at the top of the page, announcing, “We’re changing our privacy policy and terms.” You have the option to “Learn More” or to “Dismiss.” It is likely that many people have already clicked “Dismiss,” but the consequences of these changes may come back to haunt us.
Google explained the reason for its move as “our desire to create one beautifully simple and intuitive experience across Google.” Authorities in the European Union did not see the move as benign, immediately telling Google to put off its March 1 start date until they had a chance to review the change.
The issue with Google, as with Facebook, is the massive amounts of personal data the company collects from users. Everything you ever searched for, all emails ever sent or received from your Gmail account, every conversation you ever had on Google Voice; Google stores all of this. The company’s proposed change will integrate all this information even further.
While Google’s famous motto is “do no evil,” the same cannot be said of hackers. It seems inevitable that the company’s security will eventually be breached, which could be disastrous for millions of users.
The European Union wants users to have the option to request the deletion of their data, an option that would allow users consumer protection. Such an option would be beneficial to all users, not just those in the European Union.
Sarelson Law Firm – Miami litigation attorneys