Updated Jan 25, 2012 - 9:11 pm
Google will soon own even more of you
Google's privacy change has people rattled. The company announced it is going to "treat you as a single user across all our products" for a "simpler, more intuitive Google experience." What does that mean?
Google will take a user's individual accounts and mine all the data from them. They'll know even more about their users. Knowing more translates into being able to provide targeted ads. Advertisers like that. It's all about the money, of course.
Sure I like my Gmail. I watch YouTube videos. Although I think Google+ is a lame social network, I occasionally post things there. I Google news topics and other subjects all the time too. Each of those activities are different actions for me. Google knows about all the things I'm doing on my individual accounts, but now they'll pull all of that information together.
They say it's for my benefit.
For example, if I watch a YouTube video of the new Volkswagen commercial, an advertisement from VW will show up the next time I try to search something on Google. The company will integrate users’ information across Gmail, YouTube, search and 57 other Google services - yes, they have that many including the Google calendar which stores appointments and location data.
I'm under no illusion that the accounts I have through Google are something I own. They technically belong to the company. So, I don't get upset about most changes to free services. One thing I don't like is that the Google's change is something that you can't opt out of.
You can always close your accounts with Google if you don't like the change. They're gambling that we're so addicted to our years of email records and other stored data that we won't cancel our accounts.
Listen to Dave Ross and Luke Burbank talk about the outrage over Google's change
There is a way to get around Google's data mining - which they call "data liberation." Google can only integrate your information if you are signed in. If you sign into a Gmail account on one tab, and then decide to look up a clip on YouTube on another tab without signing out of your e-mail, the data will be integrated. If you sign out or look up a YouTube clip on a different browser, the data won’t be integrated. I bet Microsoft's Bing would love it if you used them for all your search needs.
I have an iPhone, but for Android users, Google will be able to track practically anything you do on your phone.
Google's changes will take effect, unless there's a major outcry about this ala Netflix, on March 1, 2012.
Bonneville Media encourages site users to express their opinions by posting comments. Our goal is to maintain a civil dialogue in which readers feel comfortable. At times, the comments can descend to personal attacks. Please do not engage in such behavior. We encourage your thoughtful comments which: have a positive and constructive tone, are on topic, are respectful toward others and their opinions. Bonneville reserves the right to remove comments which do not conform to these criteria.
-
dcnilsen wrote...What's the problem here?January 25, 2012 1:53 pm{ "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }Reply Report this as abuse -
Angry Monkey wrote..."I bet Microsoft's Bing would love it if you used them for all your search needs."January 25, 2012 2:40 pm{ "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }Reply Report this as abuse
-
roomtemp wrote...What Angry Monkey said...January 25, 2012 6:41 pm{ "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }Reply Report this as abuse -
JSP wrote...PrivacyJanuary 25, 2012 2:43 pm{ "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }Reply Report this as abuse
-
dcnilsen wrote...JSPJanuary 25, 2012 3:51 pm{ "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }Reply Report this as abuse
-
It's me! Ha ha! wrote...Other than my Email addressJanuary 25, 2012 4:08 pm{ "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }Reply Report this as abuse
-
Brandon_P wrote...They already had this information!January 25, 2012 4:57 pm{ "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }Reply Report this as abuse
-
Market72 wrote...Uhhhhhhhhhhhhh....January 25, 2012 5:20 pm{ "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }Reply Report this as abuse -
Ted Bundi wrote...Ho HummJanuary 25, 2012 8:27 pm{ "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }Reply Report this as abuse
-
lazarusrose wrote...Yeah...January 25, 2012 10:29 pm{ "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }Reply Report this as abuse
-
tlmbrt wrote...Time toJanuary 26, 2012 3:01 am{ "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }Reply Report this as abuse
-
lazarus wrote...This is how freedom is taken away... to thunderous applause!January 26, 2012 7:18 am{ "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }Reply Report this as abuse
-
lazarus wrote...The 4th isn't limited to governmental intrusion....January 26, 2012 7:33 am{ "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }Reply Report this as abuse
Linda is co-host of Seattle's Morning news, 5-9, on 97.3 KIRO FM. This is her local news blog, with an emphasis on social media, technology, Northwest companies, education, parenting, and anything else that grabs her attention.