WebProNews

Tag: opt-out

  • Google’s Privacy Change: Much Ado About Nothing?

    Are you tired of paying for Google’s services, even after they announce a major overhaul of their privacy policy? Oh, wait. You don’t actually pay anything to use Google. So much for that.

    Perhaps opting out is too difficult a task, and so, complaining about the new and unknown is the way to go. It should be noted that, even without the privacy policy consolidation, Google has always had the ability to track your online behavior, and tailor your web experience accordingly, but now that they’re being upfront about it, people have issues.

    The question is, are these issues valid?

    Not according to the lead video which makes something of a mockery of the complaints people have had concerning Google’s new privacy policy. Made by Forbes’ own Kashmir Hill, the video features the infamous Xtranormal duo going back and forth about the policy changes, and after watching it, you might come to the realization that more is being made out of Google’s privacy policy than there needs to be.

    Like the video intimated, you aren’t bound by law to use Google. There are alternatives. If their privacy policy is bothering you that much, to the point where even opting out doesn’t salve your privacy wounds, then feel free to give the other products a try.

    Or, you could always, you know, opt out…

  • Google’s Policy For Government Contracts Unchanged

    For those who are concerned about Google’s new privacy policy, there has been yet another clarification. Essentially Google would like to make clear that the new blanket policy for the consumer space doesn’t spill over into the Enterprise and Government sector and that no such data mining will be taking place in the services provided for those clients.

    The announcement of the new policies from Google sparked a number of concerns from government officials.

    SafeGov.Org issued several statements addressing their concerns over Google apps for government (GAFG) and how privacy will be handled in the future.

    Here are some key statements from Karen Evans and Jeff Gould, privacy experts from SafeGov.Org:

    “Google’s new privacy policy will have a serious impact on the information collection practices and responsibilities for its GAFG service. By issuing this statement now, we seek to make government agencies aware of the issue before the new policy is implemented – and while there is still time to influence it.”

    “We recommend that Google immediately suspend the application of its new privacy policy to GAFG users. The default setting for GAFG and for all similar services from other vendors should be no information sharing at all between services. Furthermore, Google should clarify where its consumer product line ends and its enterprise products begin. Government users want to be assured that the cloud services they use are tailored to the unique security and privacy requirements of the public sector.”

    “We hope Google will receive the message from its many users at all levels of government that this new privacy policy should be reconsidered prior to implementation.”

    Google’s Amit Singh responds directly to these comments via email:

    “Enterprise customers using Google Apps for Government, Business or Education have individual contracts that define how we handle and store their data. As always, Google will maintain our enterprise customers’ data in compliance with the confidentiality and security obligations provided to their domain. The new Privacy Policy does not change our contractual agreements, which have always superseded Google’s Privacy Policy for enterprise customers.”

    So the privacy policy for government and enterprise is defined by previous contracts and will remained unchanged by the new policies for consumers. At the very least, their information is safe. Though consumers may still have legitimate cause for alarm.

  • Can Consumers Opt-Out Of Google’s New Privacy Policy?

    Beginning March 1st Google will begin to monitor user’s habits, preferences, and proclivities much more closely and in a systematic fashion. The company reports that they will do this to help refine their products and deliver more effective advertising. This has a lot of users in an uproar! Now the policies have caught the attention of several U.S. lawmakers.

    In a letter to Google CEO Larry Page, eight United States lawmakers convey their sentiments and pose questions regarding Google’s upcoming privacy policy changes. The following is some of what was said in that letter:

    “Google’s announcement raises questions about whether consumers can opt out of the new data sharing system either globally or on a product-by-product basis.”

    “We believe that consumers should have the ability to opt out of data collection when they are not comfortable with a company’s terms of service and that the ability to exercise that choice should be simple and straightforward.”

    “While Google suggests that the purpose of this shift in policy is to make the consumer experience simpler, we want to make sure it does not make protecting consumer privacy more complicated.”

    Further questions revolved around users who decided to delete their accounts with Google and if their information would be retained or deleted. There are about twenty questions in total about the new Google privacy policies.

    The lawmakers have requested a response from Google and would like it to be before February 16th.