Google updating privacy policys
January 25th, 2012 by Peter
In just over a month, Google will be making some changes to their privacy policies and Terms of Service.
Google have over 70 privacy documents covering all of the different products which is somewhat complicated so they’re rolling out a new main privacy policy that covers the majority of products and explains what information they collect and how they use it, in a much more readable way. Some privacy notices will have to remain separate however over 60 will be consolidated into the new main privacy policy.
These changes will take effect on March 1.
What does this mean in practice? The main change is for users with Google Accounts. The new Privacy Policy makes clear that, if you’re signed in, Google may combine information you’ve provided from one service with information from other services. In short, Google will treat you as a single user across all our products.
This is said to allow Google to provide further relevant results, allowing better figuring out of what you really mean when typing keywords such as “Apple”, “Jaguar” or “Pink. It’s said to allow provide more relevant ads too (for example, it’s Jan and you’re not a gym person so fitness ads won’t be shown to you). Aswell as relevancy for searches & ads, it’s said to allow Google to improve spelling suggestions & even provide reminders that you’re going to be late for a meeting based on your location.
Google are also rewritting the Terms of service-terms so they’re easier to read by cutting down the total number, so many of their products are now covered by our new main Google Terms of Service.
It’ll be interesting to see how far Google will take this. Will they associate’s sites that are within the same Analytics/Webmaster Tools account for example?
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This could be huge news! I’m not too sure I like the idea of Google letting me know that I’m late for a meeting based on my location, for example…
Do you think it’d be a good idea to keep client accounts separate before this change is made then?