Let’s make this introduction now so it’s out of the way: Gmail meet YouTube; YouTube meet Google+’ Google+ meet Chrome; and Chrome, meet the other 50 plus services you’ll be connected to. Exhausted? You should be.
If you haven’t read up on the privacy policy changes Google’s implementing, you may want to check your Gmail inbox. For any of you who weren’t aware: Google will now be combining data from all Google services when a Google accounts user is signed in. What a nice surprise!
The “Plan”
Google is striving to make privacy policies “similar” by creating a uniform set of privacy guidelines for more than 60 of their products. In theory, the change will bring simplicity to online users, at least that is what’s Google is claiming. When you are logged into one Google service, say Gmail for example, your data will auto-fill when you attempt to use another Google service, such as Google Calendar. That offers some convenience, right? Unfortunately for Google, users are less than thrilled with the announcement of these changes despite the convenience it may offer.
Users are primarily concerned that Google appears to be interfering in a “Big Brother”-type of way. Currently, there is no way to “opt-out” of these changes, short of closing your Google accounts. The question Google has to ask itself now: are they willing to risk losing a large margin of their followers to keep these changes? The monopoly that has become Google makes the decision for users to “walk away” difficult, but one that many are considering nonetheless.
Tags: Google+, Privacy Policy
