Six Online Privacy Reminders for Google

Despite the common claim that online privacy is dead, Google’s privacy practices have been under pretty heavy scrutiny lately. Users were vocal when Google’s Buzz automatically made people in their contact lists followers. Privacy advocates have filed complaints with U.S. regulators, and foreign privacy chiefs have been none too shy about their concerns with Google’s practices – or lack thereof.

Nonetheless, Google seems to think its users and the regulators have the problem, so Google representatives have gone out of their way to explain the privacy principles yet again. But will that really fix what’s wrong?

Lora Bentley doesn’t think so. She’s combed through her coverage of Google’s problem and picked out six more privacy principles the company seems to have forgotten.

Google prides itself on its privacy principles. Click through for a few more we think the company has forgotten.

Notwithstanding what online companies say, online privacy is alive and well if the user wants it to be alive and well. Maintaining it just takes work – and the cooperation of companies like Google.

Choices made about services (whether those services are in alpha, beta or production) do affect real people in real ways. Consider the Google Buzz user who feared for her life after discovering that her abusive ex-husband knew where she was. An early iteration of Buzz was written to automatically take his information from her Gmail contact list and added him as a follower without her consent.

When users feel their rights have been violated and call for changes, explaining the privacy principles you have in place and pointing out where they can make changes to their accounts won’t be enough to regain trust. Google was right to admit its mistake with Buzz and make changes quickly.

Just like explanations won’t be enough for users, once Congress and the Federal Trade Commission ask for plans of action regarding protecting user privacy, they will expect those plans to be developed and acted upon. Mere lip service won’t be enough.

Google doesn’t get a free pass on protecting user privacy just because the U.S. has yet to enact specific online privacy laws. Other countries are watching the company’s every move on this issue, and some of them have much stricter requirements than what Congress is currently contemplating.

If users can’t trust Google or don’t feel Google is listening to their concerns, they’ll go elsewhere for their online services. If regulators don’t like what they see, they’ll slap Google with fines or other restrictions. Either situation damages both Google’s reputation and its bottom line.