If you were hanging around the internet yesterday and fiddling with google, or if you checked your Gmail inbox, you would have noticed Google’s notice of changing their privacy policy and terms.
Seeking to blunt a sharp backlash to recent privacy policy changes, Google has offered to share “the real story” about a system that compiles information about users based on their activity on all of Google’s sites and products.
This week, Google announced new privacy settings. They spell out the fact that the company collects and compiles data about its users based on their activity on its various sites — from its search page to Gmail to YouTube to phones running its Android operating system.
The announcement gave some privacy advocates cause for alarm, even though Google says the information is assembled to enhance user experience, such as better targeting ads that will be of interest to its customers.
In a post on the company’s public policy blog, Google’s Betsy Masiello wrote that there have been misconceptions about the changes.
“A lot has been said about our new privacy policy,” she wrote. “Some have praised us for making our privacy policy easier to understand. Others have asked questions, including members of Congress, and that’s understandable too.”
Among the points that Masiello makes in the post:
_ Users don’t have to be logged in to use many of Google’s products, including search and YouTube. No data is collected when a user is not logged in.
_ When logged in, users can edit or turn off their search histories, switch Gmail chat to “off the record,” use “incognito mode” on the Google Chrome browser or employ other of Google’s privacy tools.
_ Quite simply, Web users don’t have to use all of Google’s products.
She noted that Google won’t be collecting any more data about users than it was before.
Not everyone should be convinced and neither are we.
There is no way that you can opt out of shared search data, and Google will have the record of everything you do, that is a little uncomfortable.
At the same time, it’s extremely convenient to have all of your eggs in one basket—you always know exactly where they are. Plus Google’s services place nicely together in a number of time-saving, uber-handy ways. Weighing convenience against security-risks is your decision to make. The new Terms of Service perhaps haven’t added any additional risk to the equation according to my opinion except for the slightest increase in one’s privacy concerns. Your YouTube and Gmail accounts had the same password before, and they still will.
But make up your own mind. Read the new Terms of Service yourself. Compare it with the old Terms of Service. Compare it with the Terms of Service of other companies offering similar products. It’s up to you to make an informed decision. Time to use the old think-bucket.
This week, Google announced new privacy settings. They spell out the fact that the company collects and compiles data about its users based on their activity on its various sites — from its search page to Gmail to YouTube to phones running its Android operating system.
The announcement gave some privacy advocates cause for alarm, even though Google says the information is assembled to enhance user experience, such as better targeting ads that will be of interest to its customers.
In a post on the company’s public policy blog, Google’s Betsy Masiello wrote that there have been misconceptions about the changes.
“A lot has been said about our new privacy policy,” she wrote. “Some have praised us for making our privacy policy easier to understand. Others have asked questions, including members of Congress, and that’s understandable too.”
Among the points that Masiello makes in the post:
_ Users don’t have to be logged in to use many of Google’s products, including search and YouTube. No data is collected when a user is not logged in.
_ When logged in, users can edit or turn off their search histories, switch Gmail chat to “off the record,” use “incognito mode” on the Google Chrome browser or employ other of Google’s privacy tools.
_ Quite simply, Web users don’t have to use all of Google’s products.
She noted that Google won’t be collecting any more data about users than it was before.
“We’re making things simpler and we’re trying to be upfront about it. Period,”she wrote.
Not everyone should be convinced and neither are we.
At the same time, it’s extremely convenient to have all of your eggs in one basket—you always know exactly where they are. Plus Google’s services place nicely together in a number of time-saving, uber-handy ways. Weighing convenience against security-risks is your decision to make. The new Terms of Service perhaps haven’t added any additional risk to the equation according to my opinion except for the slightest increase in one’s privacy concerns. Your YouTube and Gmail accounts had the same password before, and they still will.
But make up your own mind. Read the new Terms of Service yourself. Compare it with the old Terms of Service. Compare it with the Terms of Service of other companies offering similar products. It’s up to you to make an informed decision. Time to use the old think-bucket.
Hello! I know this is somewhat off topic but I was wondering if you knew where I could find a captcha plugin for my comment form? I’m using the same blog platform as yours and I’m having problems finding one? Thanks a lot. guitar pro crack
ReplyDelete