Note: At the bottom of this post is a link for “How to Remove Your Google Search History Before Google's New Privacy Policy Takes Effect March 1st”.

You should read this email if you use Google applications or search, and care about your privacy. There is a price for “free” and you should know what it is. You have TWO DAYS to set options for your history before Google’s new “privacy policy” takes effect March 1st. You can find that policy here http://bit.ly/A5S31w . You should read Google’s policy and in-particular note the section called “Information we collect”.

When you choose to use “free” online services or software, you might be choosing to give up your privacy and your right to exclusive ownership of the content (intellectual property) you create in those services or even on your own device. Information collected may extend to user activity, search queries, sites visited, applications used, geo-locations and times, and much more… including “information (including personal information) locally on your device using mechanisms such as browser web storage (including HTML 5) and application data caches”.(nl)Google claims that they only intend to use this information to enhance services, and deliver content that is of higher value to you as a user. Many people want this, and choose to trust Google.

Others choose not to trust Google. There is a well-written article about this on PC Magazines’ site here http://bit.ly/AinX64

The following passage is quoted from Amit Singh, the leader of Google's enterprise business, in a Fortune Magazine article (reference here http://bit.ly/wzcOcz )(nl)“So what's next for Google Apps? Imagine you're at an airport and based on your social graph you know that at the next gate there's someone you're in touch with through work. We're moving from asking the system to do something for you to the system suggesting and assisting you. You can do a lot with location for enterprise users -- you'll see some product launches in this area. We have calendaring and tasks and email, and you'll see us deeply integrating the people side of it. Google+ and Google Apps are coming closer and closer together. You now know where someone is and you know how they're connected to someone else. So your phone could prompt you to go introduce yourself. This has implications to sales.”

Is this creepy? Many people may find value in this, while others will not appreciate the “Big Brother” implications. We must also bear in mind that all of the information collected by online services can be subpoenaed. This could help you or hurt in a legal case, but many people would prefer not to have their private lives co-mingled with their online public or business persona. Once the long arm of the legal system gets involved there is no “off switch”.

These new changes do not necessarily mean that you should stop using Google. If Google’s policies are fine with you, keep using Google apps and services. Otherwise, there are various controls you can use to tailor HOW Google uses your information, but that will not stop Google from collecting it.

How to Remove Your Google Search History Before Google's New Privacy Policy Takes Effect March 1st http://bit.ly/AeCPdo(nl)