Google Privacy Policy Changes: What do they mean for me?
As news outlets across the world are reporting, Google’s big privacy policy change began on March 1st. Combining over 60 different policies from separate services into one single document, Google says it’s trying to “make [its] services even better – to show you more relevant search results and ads, to help you connect with people or to make sharing with others quicker and easier.” Though Google was already collecting tidbits of information from the way you use its services (like search, email, docs, social media, etc.), its new policy allows it to combine the information you input for a more streamlined user profile.
After collecting all this information, Google will use it to help enhance your user experience across all its platforms. However, it also means that it can gather more information and create a profile of categories and demographics based on your search history, website interests, etc. and serve up more personalized and demographically-directed advertisements.
According to a post on the Google blog the new policy is meant to help users have a more efficient online experience, “We can make search better—figuring out what you really mean when you type in Apple, Jaguar or Pink. We can provide more relevant ads too. For example, it’s January, but maybe you’re not a gym person, so fitness ads aren’t that useful to you. We can provide reminders that you’re going to be late for a meeting based on your location, your calendar and an understanding of what the traffic is like that day. Or ensure that our spelling suggestions, even for your friends’ names, are accurate because you’ve typed them before.”
As stated in their description, they are using the information you give them to tailor ads to things they think you’d be interested in. Though they were doing this before, they can now compile information from a variety of sources to better target these ads to you. Google’s advertising system works so that Google only gets paid when a consumer clicks a link to the advertiser’s website (known as a pay-per-click or PPC campaign). This means that they will be catering which ads crop up on your browser to ones you’ll be more likely to click, and therefore make them more money.
European Union Justice Commissioner Viviane Reding told the BBC that European authorities feel the transparency rules weren’t being followed, and data regulators in France have launched an investigation. Google executives and privacy counsel feel that their new plan is easier for users to understand and doesn’t break any transparency laws.
If you’re looking to avoid the compilation of your information by the internet giant, the only true way to avoid being “tracked” is by not signing in to a Google account when searching online, checking out videos on YouTube, and performing other online activities. To see what Google has already compiled about you, visit your Google dashboard (requires a log-in). There Google shows you everything you’ve used their services for from calendar, blog, contacts, documents, and more. To access and delete your browsing and search history, visit google.com/history .
Tell us in the comments: Are you worried by Google’s new privacy policy or are you looking forward to the more streamlined online experience? To say up to date on the latest internet and marketing news, make sure to follow us on Facebook and Twitter.