This Google Chrome advert really hit us. It is nice. And Chrome is a nice browser.

But that’s one more product which gives Google an effective monopoly over the internet. Wait a sec, before we get started, let us make it clear that we are not Google-haters. We also use Google services every day. But without some critical commentary every now and then, we would never have a better world. The internet is based on open-ness, the small guy, and neutrality. It’s only fair that everyone has the right to be critically examined for the benefit of all. If you’re looking for the tin-hat guy, look here.

Did you know?

Did you know that Google has a unique identifier for every Chrome browser, and that it uses this when sending information about every search you make and website you visit? That the Google Toolbar often installed on browsers other than Chrome also sends similar information? That the Google Toolbar has been called “spyware” by reputable sources? With the assimilation of YouTube, Google Apps, and all other Google Services,  Google has access to your pictures, documents, emails, bank account (possibly), history, personal info, etc. and can make an accurate psychological, mental and physical picture of almost any person. And now with Chrome and Chromium OS, even your browser and operating system are Google’s, so even the non-Google services you use are within their knowledge.

Why so much data?

Part of the Google Chrome TOS:

16.1 Some of the Services are supported by advertising revenue and may display advertisements and promotions. These advertisements may be targeted to the content of information stored on the Services, queries made through the Services or other information.

Why does Google store so much data? Because it’s their business! Google makes almost all of its income through its advertising network. Everyone knows that the more targeted the ad, the better results it brings. With all this information, Google can splash relevant, highly-targeted ads which fit your psychological profile, interests and location. You get better quality ads, Google is happy and advertisers are thrilled.  A win-win situation? Perhaps not. Some of us are not so comfortable with one company having so much of our info. Google makes it explicitly clear that it only uses all of this data for improving the Services, providing targeted advertising, and similar. Even if we completely trust Google,what if this information fell into the wrong hands? Or if governments forced corporations to give them all the info (even worse)? Whatever would happen to the basic tenets of personal privacy – a critical component of democracy?

Privacy vs. Convenience

One might argue, and rightfully so, that the collaboration and connectedness of the information is what makes Google’s services so useful and intuitive. Hence the debate on how much privacy one should sacrifice for convenience. Our take on the issue is that a person should definitely have the usefulness, convenience and good features of collected information, but he should also have the knowledge on exactly what information about himself is being stored, and be able to delete that info. People with more security concerns like corporations and celebrities should have the ability to further “lock down” their accounts with increased security measures like a separate password for each Google service.

The future consequences

Monopolies are bad. All monopolies. Having a single company, organization, or group of any kind have full control over any field is bad businesses. No matter how much integrity the organization has, monopolization leads to staleness of creativity, high prices, lower quality services, more and more control, mediocrity, etc. in the long term. Competition is a vital requirement for progress.

Apart from that, there are the privacy and security issues. Leaving the Big Brother concerns aside, imagine the problem of identity theft. If someone hacked a single Google account, they would have access to someone’s entire life!

What can be done about it?

Here are some steps that would help solve these problems. These guidelines could be used in practically any industry, and may not necessarily only apply to Google.

1. We should know exactly what information Google has associated with our accounts. If Google stores keyword lists, interests, web history, search history, or -any- other data besides what we explicitly upload, we should know. This should be available in a simple “Privacy” page which lists SPECIFICALLY what information about ourselves are associated with the account.
2. We should know exactly for how long any information associated with us is stored. No information should be stored indefinitely.
3. All data should be immediately and permanently deletable. If I want my techie interests to be unknown to Google from now on, it should be a one button click. That means we can sacrifice convenience for privacy any time we chose.
4. We should have an option on Google Services to prevent data mining – not hidden deep in the piles of a privacy policy page, but out in the open. There should be a simple button (read: incognito), for example, which prevents any search data or site data from being sent to Google when using Chrome. That means we can have the convenience in everyday browsing, but with the option of complete privacy.
5. People with more security concerns like corporations and celebrities should have the ability to further “lock down” their accounts with increased security measures like a separate password for each Google service.
6. Other companies should start developing powerful online applications. Cm’on WTF! Has no one picked up the cue yet? There needs to be some competition!

Google’s response

No, Google has not responded to this specific post (yet), but after digging deep into the privacy policy pages and TOS’s, we found that:

Google collects almost any information it can

Google promises only to use this information for:

• Providing our services, including the display of customized content and advertising;
• Auditing, research and analysis in order to maintain, protect and improve our services;
• Ensuring the technical functioning of our network;
• Protecting the rights or property of Google or our users; and
• Developing new services

• We have a good faith belief that access, use, preservation or disclosure of such information is reasonably necessary to (a) satisfy any applicable law, regulation, legal process or enforceable governmental request, (b) enforce applicable Terms of Service, including investigation of potential violations thereof, (c) detect, prevent, or otherwise address fraud, security or technical issues, or (d) protect against harm to the rights, property or safety of Google, its users or the public as required or permitted by law.

You own the content that you post through Google’s services (unlike Facebook).

If you liked this, you might find this interesting:

• Google Chrome Privacy Issues – remove UID to enhance privacy

This is not the first time Google has been criticized for “looking over our shoulder”. Even if you don’t use Chrome, chances are you have the Google toolbar installed on your browser of choice. Our research found that the toolbar contacts Google’s servers way too often – often coinciding with each time you visit a webpage. Now we are not here to play the tinfoil game, but this might be interesting while we’re on topic.

Google responds by claiming it is “temporary”, and that the data is not used for anything funny. You decide.

This might help though: a software called “UnChrome” promises to delete the unique ID that is associated with Chrome.

Download Now

http://www.abelssoft.net/unchrome.php

“It replaces your unique ID with Null values so that your browser cannot be identified”. Definitely a start when it comes to privacy with Google. In other words, it anonymizes your browser.

Simply press the “Remove unique ID now” button, and you’re done!

One might question the effectiveness of this though. After all, you probably have your email, contacts, documents, IP, search history and other data with Google anyhow. Raises the question as to how far should we should sacrifice privacy for convenience.

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