For many Google users, this may be old news, but if it isn’t you should be on this. Google announced on it’s main site that as of March 1st 2012, a new privacy policy will be put in effect that streamlines its users’ personal information throughout all Google services. In doing so, it will be able to “treat you as a single user across all of [their] products, which will mean a simpler, more intuitive Google experience.”
In other words, the company can target ads more effectively and specifically based on any information it has collected from your email, Google+ activity, browsing history if you’re using Chrome, cookies, and GPS if you’re using Google Maps or especially an Android phone, etc. The information-collecting part is nothing new—this is how companies like Facebook, Yahoo, and Google have always made their money: by providing a comprehensive personal data-based bridge between advertisers and consumers. However, this new plan consolidates your previously isolated online profiles as a Gmail user, or a Google Reader user, or a Google Calendar user into one, super extensive Google personality. For instance, if you talk about Moby in your emails all the time, and your GPS is telling headquarters you live in LA, your going to get an ad for the next Hollywood stop on his tour next to your Google search results. Just click on “MORE” in the top bar of your Gmail and you’ll see that this company really wants to be there for every part of your life.
Whether or not this is a bad thing depends on your own feelings about whether or not you want to be a GooglePerson©.
Either way, you should know what you’re getting yourself into because as of March, you have no choice. On the other hand, if you find out that you really do want to opt out, THIS SERVICEcan make sure you’re out for good.
