New changes to Google, integrating personal information from all of their sites, is stirring some controversy.

Here are a few editorials you may want to read.

http://www.aljazeera.com/news/americas/2012/01/201212575250131796.html

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-16720406

http://abcnewsradioonline.com/business-news/google-changes-raising-privacy-concerns.html

http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/t...8GOQ_story.html

By tomorrow, there will be opinion columns on every news site.
No options.... one plan...
Am rethinking my own "membership" Email, Google Docs etc.

One of the Google programs that I have some substantial involvement in is Picasa... where I tens of thousands of photos, which I have organized to include facial recognition. I haven't thought through the other implications. Losing the "cloud" storage will be a real blow, as Google uses it'sown proprietary conversions of text, spread sheets, PDF files etc.

It's an all or nothing policy... so opting out removes everything.

So much for do no evil.

The reason for the change is quite obvious... It will provideGoogle with the ultimate targeted advertising tool.

They are providing windows to download current info, for those wanting to opt out.

I expect there will be much heat in the internet community, and a scramble to pick up business in alternate application sites.

Ach! so much for trust.

The recent mega-upload seizure pretty much says that cloud storage is only safe and reliable until the government decides they need to take down the server your stuff is residing on. Then it's gone, gone, gone!

That is sending shock waves through the IT community, and is going to kill cloud use until we get some sort of legal rights established.

hmmm ... you cited several non-google editorials but failed to cite google itself ... i would think the user should know what the new policy is and decide for themselves if there may be a problem


Overview

Privacy Policy

Google Terms of Service

FAQ

Court to hear Privacy Case

Ah yes, "till the government decides to take it down".
And then of course there's always "till the company decides that you're not paying them enough and the rates will be tripled".

Cloud storage? Not without local backup.

To ease fears.... ZDNet Editorial (Get over it)

How to Remove Your Google Search History Before Google's New Privacy Policy Takes Effect

Privacy Bill of Rights

The alternative Privacy Bill of Rights:

You have the right to remain silent by simply turning off your computer.

Nothing that you do not say may be held against you.

You have the right to go to a library or internet cafe to conduct searches/traqnsactions.

You have the right to utilize the one-use only credit card number obtainable from almost all major credit card companies.

You have the right to use an Internet Service Provider that provides a dynamic IP address for each time you log onto the internet.

You have the right to use the US Postal Service for bill receipt and bill-paying.

You have the right to cut up all of your credit cards.. No bank, merchant, or Government agency may force you to use a credit card over the internet.

The "Do not track" program is a good start, and if you're using Chrome, the Incognito mode eliminates tracking.

I don't know a lot about IP address tracking, but here's a discussion link FWIW

IP addresses

Anyone who disagrees with Google's (or anyone else's) policies is free to refrain from giving their business to Google.

Who's snooping on you?

'

Ah! Snooping on the snoopers!
A small step toward the sort of world that I want!

If you use Firefox, try it. It's amazing as to the amount of tracking! Also, you might want to try MAXA cookie manager. You can download the standard version for free. You'll notice a considerable improvement in your computer's performance once you eliminate many of the cookies.