What Google’s new Privacy Policy changes mean to you

James T Dabbagian (@JTDabbagian)www.jtdabbagian.com

James@JTDabbagian.com

What’s going on?

Google has elected to update its privacy policy. This affects all

users with Google Accounts who use services such as Gmail,

Youtube, Google Analytics or Google Calendar.

What exactly will happen?

On March 1st, Google will consolidate the privacy policies of all of its

respective products into one single-serve privacy policy.

Why is Google doing this?

Google has a vast amount of products, each one with a different privacy policy. Currently, there are more than 60 different privacy policies that fall under certain products.(1)

(1)See Google: Policies and Principles Overview

Will the privacy policies be completely universal?

The majority of Google products will fall under one universal privacy policy. However, certain

products such as Google Wallet will have additional aspects in its policies as required by

federal law; Chrome also has additional specific policies.

Photo Credit: NASA

Is Google collecting new data on me?

The answer is no. All Google is doing is explaining in greater detail what data they already collect from

you and how they use it.

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Google currently has NO plans to

sell your information to

third-parties. As the FAQ states, “It’s simply not

how we operate.”

See “Google: Information We Share” for more information.

PRIVATE

Are there exceptions to this?

There are few exceptions to this, such as if required by court order. However these

exceptions are the same as the ones from the previous policy. Nothing has changed.

See “Google: Information We Share” for more information.

So what exactly is changing?

The Google Privacy Policy is being consolidated to be made more readable for its users, so they understand exactly

what data is being used.

See “Google: Information We Share” for more information.

What about my data?

Your data is now shareable across all of Google’s services. For instance, a search for “Books on

Fish” using Google search may net you an advertisement about fish in Gmail or Blogger. Again, no new data is being collected or sold.

This is all information Google already has.

Tape library, CERN, Geneva 2 by Cory Doctorow

Can I opt-out of the new privacy policy?

You may not. The only way to not be subject to the new privacy policy is

to stop using Google’s products before March 1st.

Photo by Free Images Live

How can I see what data Google has on me?

Google’s Dashboard allows you to see what data and information Google has access

to, and the Ads Preferences Manager lets you see how Google determines what

advertisements you see.

Click here to go to your Google Dashboard.

Click here to go to Google Ads Manager.

Can I control what data Google has?

Yes. You may set Google to not detect your preferences when viewing ads, and you may also control private details such as

your profile and your contacts.

Click here to go to your Google Dashboard.

Click here to go to Google Ads Manager.

Summary: What is changing

• Google is consolidating its privacy policies into one single policy for the majority of its products.

• The new privacy policy will be much easier to read than the current ones.

• Your data will be sharable across all of Google’s services

Summary: What is NOT changing

• No new information is being collected. • Google still is not selling information to third

parties• The privacy policy context remains the same,

save for the readability changes. • Google products will remain free.• You are still in complete control of what Data

Google has.

Did you enjoy this presentation?

If you’re concerned about Google, or if you enjoyed this presentation, please leave a

comment below. Let me know if I create a presentation like this

for you by contacting me at James@JTDabbagian.com

Further Reading

• Google: Advertising and Privacy• Google’s Old Privacy Policy• Google’s New Privacy Policy• One policy, one Google experience