Are You Comfortable With the Amount of Data Google Keeps on You? [Poll]
We all know it by now: Google collects information on us. Whatever they do collect is probably harmless, and their privacy policy is constantly tweaked and amended to assure everyone that their privacy is as safe as safe can be, but one group of folks don’t seem to buy it.
Consumer Watchdog – a group who has been notorious for trying to completely dismantle Google over the past couple of years – has requested that their close relationship with the Obama administration be investigated as they believe policies are being violated for secret use by the National Security Agency.
Says Consumer Watchdog to Government Reform Committee chairman Darrell Issa, also a California Republican:
“We believe Google has inappropriately benefited from close ties to the administration,” the letter said. “Google is most consumers’ gateway to the Internet. Nonetheless, it should not get special treatment and access because of a special relationship with the administration.”
You had to expect Google wouldn’t take it lying down, though: they brought to light the group’s close ties with some of Google’s biggest competitors, such as Amazon and Microsoft. A spokeswoman for Google says “this is just the latest in a long list of press stunts from an organization that admits to working closely with our competitors.”
The same group reportedly bought major video-screen space in Times Square, New York to publicly and loudly criticize Google’s privacy practices in this same month two years ago. Their motivation, according to them, is to hold Google accountable for their not-really-official “Don’t Be Evil” motto that’s become infamous over recent years.
So that’s the story, but what do you guys think? Even if Consumer Watchdog claims they don’t receive money from any of Google’s competitors with whom they affiliate themselves, do you think their claims are validated? I’m sure Google isn’t the only major corporation with close ties to the governing body of America, and the fact that they collect more information about their users than most outlets alone shouldn’t strike up such a campaign. The basis on which they’re trying to summon an investigation is weak to begin with, and I’m sure their motives will be questioned when their request is officially being considered.
It also poses an interesting question for us common folk, though: are we really comfortable with the amount of information Google collects on us? They collect a lot – it’d probably frighten you how accurate your dope sheet would be – but are you concerned about their ties with the Obama administration and the possibility that your information could be in the hands of the NSA for the purpose of national security? As users of Google’s Android, would you feel your privacy is violated more than someone who just uses Google as a desktop search tool every day should these allegations turn up true at any degree? [via PC World]
[Update]: For the record, it’s a known fact that Google records which websites you visit – including the dates and times you visited – and ties them to your IP address. That’s the “harmless” data they keep and use to better their products for you. We assume Consumer Watchdog incorporates into their claim not only that, but the fact that Google could probably access your email account with them whenever they wanted. We’ll have more clarification on their allegations after we go through the 30+ page document sent to repbulican Issa.
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