Google Takes Two Steps to Protect Our Privacy

Svetlana Gladkova,

on September 09, 2008,

Google Devil logo Google has been criticized for a long time about storing history of all the searches performed by a user on its servers for as long as it wanted along with the IP addresses associated with those search queries. This policy was changed in March 2007 to only store user’s information for 18 months - after which all the information was anonymized and could not be connected to any particular user. But it has never been considered enough so it really looked like Google would have to make another step in the same direction.

So late yesterday evening the company announced the next step taken to satisfy privacy advocates: reducing the data retention period to 9 months from the previous 18. Google is as unhappy about having to make the move as it should be: the company complains that the new policy will hardly help protect users’ privacy but will deteriorate quality of search results performed by a user because it will be more difficult to figure what exactly the user is looking for without a lengthy history of his previous queries.

At the same time Google makes another move to improve privacy in another product of the company - Google Suggest. The recently graduated out of Google Labs Google Suggest produces suggestions to users for what they may be searching for right when they are typing. Google Suggest has been heavily criticized recently in connection to Google Chrome browser because users realized that 2% of everything they type would be stored on Google’s servers along with their IP addresses as well. In this case the move is even more radical - Google will delete all the IPs within 24 hours after it obtains them (or practically as soon as it is technically possible).

It is good to see Google addressing users concerns about privacy. But still I am quite sure that we will have various conspiracy theories floating around and users will hardly ever be satisfied by Google’s privacy policy - simply because we feel insecure about all the information that Google has about almost any internet user.

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15 Comments (Subscribe to rss)

Wayne Smallman - September 09, 2008 at 08:19 am PDT

Problem is, over time, limiting the amount of data Google et al can retain about their users will seriously impact on the kind of next generation applications they’re developing which will rely heavily on historical data — the very same data they’re getting rid of to sooth and placate privacy advocates.

For the most part, the vast majority of people using Google’s search product neither care nor realize the political struggles going on behind the scenes.

Most people are happy that Google’s search works and continues to work.

A better solution would be an opt-in button, which would at least bring the issue to the attentions of the vast majority who know nothing about what data & information Google retain concerning them…
Svetlana Gladkova - September 09, 2008 at 08:34 am PDT

@Wayne: True, I have always felt that some Google products really need some specific opt-in process so that users actually noticed what they agree to share with the corporation and could actually make a thoughtful decision. But unfortunately such an opt-in approach would limit the volume of data Google obtains about users’ behavior to a tiny portion of what it is now - and that’s definitely not something Google is ready to part with unless it is forced to.
Samantha - September 09, 2008 at 01:28 pm PDT

You folks will have to break it down for me… I can’t see how my IP address could be used to give me better search results. I search for several things for several reasons throughout the day.

But I CAN see how having my IP address to track what I search could be used to target ads just for me. THAT would be something that Google would be hard to part with.
Jason - September 09, 2008 at 01:45 pm PDT

I don’t see the big deal with Google holding all of this information. Yea they can figure out a lot about you but is that such a bad thing. Giving them the power to get other things that are tailored for us, better search results is that not what we are after in the first place. We go to Google as the all out savior when we can’t figure something out. If they don’t have information about what we are into then the quality will dramatically decrease. I personally don’t do any sort of searching that is illegal or that sort, and I’m not giving Google my CC#. So by all means gather information on me, it’ll just make my life easier.
Cole - September 09, 2008 at 04:39 pm PDT

@Jason: I guess the question boils down to this… How much of your personal privacy are you willing to compromise for the sake of convenience? Granted, I’m not setting out to drag you into a political discussion; I fully respect your viewpoint and acknowledge you for being willing to share it.

Just curious.
Svetlana Gladkova - September 10, 2008 at 02:02 am PDT

@Samantha: No doubt about that also, I have always thought that since Google makes its money with advertising, every service they provide is related to advertising in this or that way. And of course the more personal information they have for you, the easier it will be to target the right ads to you. And I can agree this is what concerns them the most - not the quality of search they provide to me. I have no idea myself how they could provide me better results based on what I searched for a year ago, honestly.
Arnold - Mr.Gadget - September 10, 2008 at 05:48 am PDT

Even with 9 months worth of data, there’s a lot of data mining treasures to be had! Thanks for the post
Svetlana Gladkova - September 11, 2008 at 03:49 am PDT

@Arnold: Thank you, glad you enjoyed the post. And yes, 9 months seems like not all that short period to me either but it looks like far from what Google actually wants with Marissa Mayer explaining how she sees Google becoming everyone’s best friend knowing everything that we know and suggesting answers based on that shared knowledge. I think this is already scary - posted about it at http://profy.com/2008/09/11/marissa-mayer-predicts-future-of-search-misspells-novosibirsk-my-city/.
erichansa - September 11, 2008 at 04:12 am PDT

sure, google did so much efforts
web design company - September 21, 2008 at 10:09 pm PDT

So late yesterday evening the company announced the next step taken to satisfy privacy advocates: reducing the data retention period to 9 months from the previous 18.
elliot - March 13, 2009 at 07:46 am PDT

Svetlana -

I am not so worried about Google. They care about making money and its hard to imagine them making much money froom releasing my personal info. BUT, what if someone hacks in and steals it? Or if the FBI subpoena’s it? Scary.

And, on the google topic - I hope you are putting together a post on Google Voice. I think the issues relating to international users will be quite interesting. When can I cancel my Vonage? Webex?

And for my standard, yet relevant, promotion of my website (not my zero income blog, mind you) - The winter snows seem to be over and with the recession - the trip to Hawaii or California is out. This summer the beaches of the mid-atlantic region of the US are pretty attractive to the 100M or so people who can get tehre is a days drive. SO - recession or not - plan a beach vacation.

http://www.tripcart.com/usa-regions/Eastern-North-Carolina-Virginia-Maryland,Guided-Tours.aspx
Svetlana Gladkova - March 13, 2009 at 10:09 am PDT

elliot: I myself can hardly decide what my own attitude is about Google and privacy: I try to be reasonable and avoid sounding paranoid but on the other side I do realize that the volume of information we provide Google with is probably way too huge for any one company to own. But I also realize there’s nothing we can actually do here to change anything so everyone who is afraid should simply avoid giving any information to Google while everyone else can avoid thinking of it same as they do now.

Thanks for suggesting Google Voice, I actually have not considered covering it but will probably try to offer my perspective since you are interested.

P.S. A beach vacation is a great idea, I wish I had temperature above zero here and a beach not covered with snow
Tom - May 03, 2009 at 04:51 am PDT

Recently I read that Google is the most expensive stamp in the world, 77 Millarden Dollar. The people like Google similar like Coka Cola and I think it isn´t dangerous that Google select information from us. Information is nothing …
profy - May 03, 2009 at 04:58 am PDT

If you think information is nothing, than why do you think Google\\'s brand is so expensive? Is the company anything but information and information-related services?
Tom - May 03, 2009 at 07:09 am PDT

I think its similar like Microsoft. Whats Microsoft without Bill Gates. One person!!!
Microsoft is nothing without Bill Gates. The maintaince is the philosopie of a company etc. the people which lead a company. The people are the key, I think u think so too.
But is it dangerous if Google know everything of u? What could happen?

Greetings Tom

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