Google has started alerting users of its products that
it's changing the way it treats users' data, combining
even more information it knows about them from all of
its products, from Gmail to YouTube.
Google is putting a notice on its home page and
sending emails to users starting Tuesday. Google says
the changes will give users "a better, more consistent
experience on Google products and will help
advertisers better reach users who are interested in
their products and services."
Google's new main privacy policy covers the majority
of its products and explains what information Google
collects, and how its uses it, in a much more readable
way. Regulators globally have been calling for
shorter, simpler privacy policies - and having one
policy covering many different products is now fairly standard across the web. The changes to Google's
privacy policy and terms of service take effect March
1. They remove legal hurdles Google had faced in
combining information from certain properties such as
YouTube or search history.
The main change for users is related to Google
Accounts. The new Privacy Policy makes clear that, if
a user is signed in, Google may combine information he
or she has provided from one service with information
from other services. "In short, we'll treat you as a
single user across all our products, which will mean a
simpler, more intuitive Google experience," Google
said.
For example, Google's recently launched personal
search box now gives users answers not just from the
web, but their personal stuff too. So if you search
for restaurants in Munich, you might see Google+ posts
or photos that people have shared with you, or that
are in your albums.
Google says that it would also make search "better"
figuring out what you really mean when you type in
Apple, Jaguar or Pink. But most importantly, Google
can now provide more relevant ads too.
The latest Google Terms of Service page is available
here.
Google added that it doesn't sell users' personal
information, nor hare it externally without users'
permission except in limited circumstances like a
valid court order. Google's Ads Preferences Manager
enables users to edit the interest categories Google
is advertising against or turn off certain Google ads
altogether.
"We believe this new, simpler policy will make it
easier for people to understand our privacy practices
as well as enable Google to improve the services we
offer," Google added.