Social Media Tip #108: Google To Consolidate Privacy Policies.

Google has just announced that beginning March 1 2012, they will be "...getting rid of over 60 different privacy policies across Google and replacing them with one that's a lot shorter and easier to read."

The updated Google Privacy Policy can be found here http://www.google.com/policies/privacy/preview/.

Google has explained that it wants users to have an easier time of:

-Working across Google (Youtube, Gmail, Calendar, Search, etc)

-Having a personalized (customized) experience

-Easily sharing content and collaborating

Updated sections include protocol for what information Google collects (such as profile information or device-specific information), how this information is used, location/cookies stored, and an explanation of how information is used.

Google has explained its "Transparency" section:

Transparency and choice

People have different privacy concerns. Our goal is to be clear about what information we collect, so that you can make meaningful choices about how it is used. For example, you can:

Review and control certain types of information tied to your Google Account by using Google Dashboard.
View and edit your ads preferences, such as which categories might interest you, using the Ads Preferences Manager. You can also opt out of certain Google advertising services here.
Use our editor to see and adjust how your Google Profile appears to particular individuals.
Control who you share information with.
Take information out of many of our services.

Overall, the changes should not have any adverse affect on the way team members use their Google applications to search, keep in touch, and share; but it sounds like the Google team is attempting to simplify their overall privacy guidelines.

Dealership team members should take a minute to read through the policy guidelines and make sure they are current with Google's privacy policy.

How do you feel about Google's newest privacy policy announcement?

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Comment by AutoSTARR on February 6, 2012 at 4:26pm: Totally correct, Stephen; according to Google's statement, as well as the information presented on their blog, the new privacy consolidations will not result in any lost privacy.

Hard to say what exactly has some folks all riled up about this issue-perhaps it all comes down to the fear of another entity controlling your content. Since these people cannot change Google's consolidation move, they are reacting out of anxiety, rather than reading the facts beforehand.

Trust is hard to gain and hard to keep - I think in this case Google is doing a good job of being open with their policy, and of not compromising user privacy.

What's the sentiment you've been getting from your friends and peers?

Comment by Stephen Jackson on January 30, 2012 at 5:31pm: Some people (including eight house members) are in a complete uproar about how this might destroy our internet privacy. However, Google states that they aren't collecting any more data than they were before. I think that integration is a good thing, and this change will only make it a little more convenient. What's the big deal?