Google’s Relationship with Customer’s Privacy: It’s Complicated
The personal data Google is collecting from people, according to their website, is pretty much everything. They say that they collect whatever you decide to provide to them such as “name and a password.” Yet, in the same breath, they go on to state that they “also collect the content you create, upload, or receive from others when using our services” which includes “email you write and receive, photos and videos you save, docs and spreadsheets you create, and comments you make on YouTube videos” (Google.com, 2020). So, pretty much anything you do while using their services is essentially fair game for Google to use however, they choose.
They say they use the information they gather on their customers to “improve, build, maintain, and develop better services,” as well as, measuring performance, communication with customers and “protection for google, users, and public” (Google.com, 2020). One reason they give for tracking and collecting information on their customers is to help provide the customers with ads based on their preferences as if it’s a win-win situation (Google.com, 2020). Unfortunately, I couldn’t find any information as far as customer rights regarding the deletion of their personal information.
As far as rights or control over how your data is used, it seems there is some control, but not much. You can opt-out of some ways they use the information, but not all. Making it even more confusing of what you’re actually opting out of. For instance, there’s no option for you to opt-out of them reading your emails. The wording is also confusing too. When I opted out of some of the options, they make it sound as if you’re doing something wrong and certain things won’t work if you are opted-out. Also, the wording for what you are able to opt-out of doesn’t match the privacy policy. It’s also not clear or transparent as to how much of your personal information they will still use, even if you have opted out of everything there is to opt-out of.
Back in 2016, France fined Google for violating the European Union’s (E.U) General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) by making its privacy policy too long and complicated, making it hard for users to protect their privacy (Kang, 2016). Which has led to a class-action lawsuit regarding privacy violations (Kang, 2016). Therefore, having a complicated privacy policy and using customer information for dubious purposes is normal business practices for Google.
In the U.S, Google may finally be starting to come under fire for its rather relaxed privacy policies, something that antitrust advocates have long been pushing for (Knox, 2019).
According to the article, U.S explores antitrust case over ad practices of Google, written by Cecilia Kang, Katie Benner, and Jack Nicas of the New York Times stated that the Justice Department is “exploring whether to open a case against Google for possible antitrust violations” (2019). The article also stated that the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) was going to reopen a 2013 antitrust investigation against Google (Kang, Benner, Nicas, 2019). Also mentioned in the article is that the FTC has started a new task force to combat the privacy issues and other concerns coming from “Big Tech” (Kang, Benner, Nicas, 2019). Throughout the article, it mentions the bipartisan agreement in the government that something needs to be done (Kang, Benner, Nicas, 2019).
So, there’s hope on the horizon that the U.S government is starting to wake up to the fact that this is a serious issue. Hopefully, they follow in the footsteps of the E.U and pass legislation to protect its citizens from having their privacy violated. Fingers crossed it will be sooner rather than later!
Kang, C., Brenner, K., & Nicas, J. (2019, June 1). U.S Explores antitrust case over ad practices of Google. New York Times, p. B1(L). Retrieved from https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/A587348497/OVIC?u=omah52829&sid=OVIC&xid=437c3d70
Knox, R. (2019, June 5). Big Tech is having a terrible week. Things will only get worse. Washington Post. Retrieved from https://link-gale-com.leo.lib.unomaha.edu/apps/doc/A587767431/OVIC?u=omah52829&sid=OVIC&xid=d66037df
The Associated Press. (2019). French lawsuit accuses Google of violating EU privacy rules. AP Top News Package. Associated Press DBA Press Association. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com.leo.lib.unomaha.edu/login.aspx?direct=true&db=n5h&AN=APa6312c5744a04ef09f3cc92cd1013038&site=ehost-live&scope=site
