# New Google Privacy Policy **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [January 29, 2012, 1:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-google-privacy-policy/611080 "2012-01-29T13:26:12Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 16\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ccd318/32.png) [@Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Paul_in_Qatar)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2012, 1:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-google-privacy-policy/611080/1 "2012-01-29T13:26:12Z")
I feel a little overwhelmed by the verbage of the new Google privacy policy. I suppose I desire about as much privacy as any average person does. How does the new policy affect me? What settings on the new “dashboard” make the most sense for most people? What have you done? ---
**Author:** ![Nametag](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nametag/32/406_2.png) [@Nametag](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nametag)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2012, 8:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-google-privacy-policy/611080/2 "2012-01-29T20:24:29Z")
Google is apparently being more upfront about the way they share data across their products; they’re not collecting any more data than before, but it gets spread throughout their product line. When you search for something on Google, browse with Chrome, look for something on Google Maps, watch YouTube, or enter profile information into any other Google app, the information is collected and used to target Google ads and service offers. Google says the information is assembled to enhance user experience, such as better targeting ads that will be of interest to its customers – this would be less charitably described as making their ads more valuable to advertisers. > [@](#): > > In a post on the company’s public policy blog, Google’s Betsy Masiello wrote that there have been misconceptions about the changes. > > “A lot has been said about our new privacy policy,” she wrote. “Some have praised us for making our privacy policy easier to understand. Others have asked questions, including members of Congress, and that’s understandable too.” > > Among the points that Masiello makes in the post: > > \_ Users don’t have to be logged in to use many of Google’s products, including search and YouTube. No data is collected when a user is not logged in. > > \_ When logged in, users can edit or turn off their search histories, switch Gmail chat to “off the record,” use “incognito mode” on the Google Chrome browser or employ other of Google’s privacy tools. > > \_ Quite simply, Web users don’t have to use all of Google’s products. ---
**Author:** ![ratatoskK](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ratatoskk/32/2987_2.png) [@ratatoskK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ratatoskK)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2012, 10:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-google-privacy-policy/611080/3 "2012-01-29T22:41:04Z")
I got that notice too, saying the new policy was to unify and simplify all their policies. But they did not say what their new policy is, although I followed their link… ---
**Author:** ![Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ccd318/32.png) [@Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Paul_in_Qatar)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2012, 1:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-google-privacy-policy/611080/4 "2012-01-30T01:41:55Z")
I followed their link and got confused. ---
**Author:** ![drewtwo99](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d07c76/32.png) [@drewtwo99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drewtwo99)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2012, 1:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-google-privacy-policy/611080/5 "2012-01-30T01:46:01Z")
I use adblock and noscript anyway, so it probably won’t affect me too much. If you aren’t using these products yourself, you should definitely give them a go. They are easy to install and use. ---
**Author:** ![Turble](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8dc957/32.png) [@Turble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Turble)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2012, 10:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-google-privacy-policy/611080/6 "2012-01-30T22:56:17Z")
[https://www.startpage.com/](https://www.startpage.com/) Their privacy statement is very clear; they don’t keep **any** records of searches. The searches are actually done on Google, so it requires no relearning. Each search result also gives you the option to visit the page through a proxy. ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2012, 11:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-google-privacy-policy/611080/7 "2012-01-30T23:45:12Z")
I am not signed up with google in any way on my primary email account. I don’t use google+. I don’t sign in to google when I search. When I got my Android phone a couple years ago I had to register with google so I used a gmail account I set up just for that purpose. I don’t use that account. Today I got an email from google on my primary email account about their new privacy policy. The email I have never provided them. ---
**Author:** ![Christopher\_Robin\_Davies](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8dc957/32.png) [@Christopher\_Robin\_Davies](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Christopher_Robin_Davies)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2012, 12:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-google-privacy-policy/611080/8 "2012-01-31T00:46:46Z")
> [@Loach](#): > > I am not signed up with google in any way on my primary email account. I don’t use google+. I don’t sign in to google when I search. When I got my Android phone a couple years ago I had to register with google so I used a gmail account I set up just for that purpose. I don’t use that account. > > Today I got an email from google on my primary email account about their new privacy policy. The email I have never provided them. Are you sure? It is possible you gave them your primary email account when you set up the gmail account for the Android, then forgot about it. ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2012, 1:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-google-privacy-policy/611080/9 "2012-01-31T01:48:59Z")
> [@Christopher\_Robin\_Davies](#): > > Are you sure? It is possible you gave them your primary email account when you set up the gmail account for the Android, then forgot about it. For Android it had to be a gmail account. ---
**Author:** ![Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ccd318/32.png) [@Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Paul_in_Qatar)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2012, 3:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-google-privacy-policy/611080/10 "2012-01-31T15:36:20Z")
OK, I use Gmail, but have never signed onto Google Earth, Google Search or the soon-to-come Google colonoscopy. I suppose the damage is limited. How can I see what they know about me? ---
**Author:** ![Sam\_Lowry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e95f7d/32.png) [@Sam\_Lowry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sam_Lowry)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2012, 5:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-google-privacy-policy/611080/11 "2012-01-31T17:30:00Z")
> [@Paul\_in\_Qatar](#): > > OK, I use Gmail, but have never signed onto Google Earth, Google Search or the soon-to-come Google colonoscopy. I suppose the damage is limited. How can I see what they know about me? I think you can see [here](https://www.google.com/settings/u/0/ads/onweb/?sig=ACi0TChQZ3QrgXJzWp3VV99G7eE0K5k7kEPjs42qHHX9ctbToxswoeg99W9NZ5dyndU2peS9wrEONi-2mzVTtZH2l4cv_GGUaCYGJaUGG-IGHpXxg4vXUmlPVG_qH0jzDY2m26EdESDvfubbyuYMW1iGGP0ne_i4OAB3n8Yq0MdyVLqNmPV7Yps&hl=en). If the link works, it should take you to the Ad Preferences Manager page. Though their information isn’t always correct, since it says I’m a male, and that one of my interests is Travel - Bus & Rail, neither of which is correct. ---
**Author:** ![elfkin477](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a9a28c/32.png) [@elfkin477](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfkin477)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2012, 9:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-google-privacy-policy/611080/12 "2012-01-31T21:58:31Z")
> [@Sam\_Lowry](#): > > I think you can see [here](https://www.google.com/settings/u/0/ads/onweb/?sig=ACi0TChQZ3QrgXJzWp3VV99G7eE0K5k7kEPjs42qHHX9ctbToxswoeg99W9NZ5dyndU2peS9wrEONi-2mzVTtZH2l4cv_GGUaCYGJaUGG-IGHpXxg4vXUmlPVG_qH0jzDY2m26EdESDvfubbyuYMW1iGGP0ne_i4OAB3n8Yq0MdyVLqNmPV7Yps&hl=en). If the link works, it should take you to the Ad Preferences Manager page. Though their information isn’t always correct, since it says I’m a male, and that one of my interests is Travel - Bus & Rail, neither of which is correct. I read an article over the weekend where someone got completely inaccurate results, but with the glaring exception of “Autos & Vehicles - Vehicle Parts & Accessories - Vehicle Fuels & Lubricants”\* mine is completely accurate including gender and age. - a few searches for alternatives to “Leak Ender 2000” which hit upon auto seal stuff probably explains this, but it’s not _an interest_. ---
**Author:** ![Gozu\_Tashoya](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/7993a0/32.png) [@Gozu\_Tashoya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gozu_Tashoya)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2012, 12:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-google-privacy-policy/611080/13 "2012-02-01T00:50:16Z")
> [@Loach](#): > > For Android it had to be a gmail account. I think **CRD** probably meant that you provided your primary e-mail address when you set up that Gmail account itself, i.e., as the “we can send you instructions to reset your password if you forget it” account. Me, I’m often surprised at what e-mail addresses I find that I’ve used for those. ---
**Author:** ![Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ccd318/32.png) [@Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Paul_in_Qatar)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2012, 1:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-google-privacy-policy/611080/14 "2012-02-01T01:53:41Z")
This is creepy. ---
**Author:** ![Turble](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8dc957/32.png) [@Turble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Turble)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2012, 2:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-google-privacy-policy/611080/15 "2012-02-01T02:49:44Z")
[Phone ‘Rootkit’ Maker Carrier IQ May Have Violated Wiretap Law In Millions Of Cases](http://www.forbes.com/sites/andygreenberg/2011/11/30/phone-rootkit-carrier-iq-may-have-violated-wiretap-law-in-millions-of-cases/) > [@](#): > > That’s not just creepy, says Paul Ohm, a former Justice Department prosecutor and law professor at the University of Colorado Law School. Not only does Google have a record of everything you have ever done while logged on to one of their sites, it appears they also may have records of every key you have ever pressed on your Android phone along with your location at the time you pressed those keys. Also, note that that information is being sent **before** your call or text is sent. ---
**Author:** ![Nametag](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nametag/32/406_2.png) [@Nametag](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nametag)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2012, 3:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-google-privacy-policy/611080/16 "2012-02-10T03:49:27Z")
> [@Sam\_Lowry](#): > > I think you can see [here](https://www.google.com/settings/u/0/ads/onweb/?sig=ACi0TChQZ3QrgXJzWp3VV99G7eE0K5k7kEPjs42qHHX9ctbToxswoeg99W9NZ5dyndU2peS9wrEONi-2mzVTtZH2l4cv_GGUaCYGJaUGG-IGHpXxg4vXUmlPVG_qH0jzDY2m26EdESDvfubbyuYMW1iGGP0ne_i4OAB3n8Yq0MdyVLqNmPV7Yps&hl=en). If the link works, it should take you to the Ad Preferences Manager page. Though their information isn’t always correct, since it says I’m a male, and that one of my interests is Travel - Bus & Rail, neither of which is correct. Huh. They have my age wrong, and they think I’m in (or have some interest in) New York state.