New Google Privacy Policy
Google Now Accessing User Data from All Google Services
Another algorithm change likely to send shockwaves through the SEO community is the introduction of a new unified Google privacy policy due to be launched in March. Basically this means that Google will combine information from signed-in users from one product to other Google products in order to show more relevant search results and ads.
What does this mean?
Well the powers that be at Google describe the main change for users with Google Accounts. The new Privacy Policy will make clear, that if you’re signed in to your Gmail account, then Google may combine information you've provided from one service with information from other services. In basic terms, Google confirm that they will treat a single user across all their products, which will mean a simpler, more intuitive Google experience.”
Google is also reducing more than 60 other privacy policies for all its products that include search, YouTube, Gmail, Calendar. The reduction of the privacy policies will see down the privacy policies condensed into one main “simplified” easy-to-read policy as of March 1.
There Has However Been Some Fierce Opposition
As with any change at Google, there are always hotly debated issues with such changes. Privacy concerns have been quickly highlighted. The European Commission is proposing to significantly enhance the protection of consumer privacy and therefore Google will need to be absolutely transparent about the data they capture and how it is used," Nick Pickles, director of privacy and civil liberties group Big Brother Watch has told V3.co.uk. "This goes beyond search and includes email scanning, location data from phones and Google +1 activity. Only when consumers have confidence in what data Google is collecting and using will simplified policies not be seen as an attempt to avoid scrutiny."
“Google’s new privacy announcement is frustrating and a little frightening,” Common Sense Media chief executive James Steyer told the Washington Post. “Even if the company believes that tracking users across all platforms improves their services, consumers should still have the option to opt out — especially the kids and teens who are avid users of YouTube, Gmail and Google Search.”
The key to this privacy policy is that you are providing everything Google knows about you. And Google is telling you right up front about it.
As for “kids”, Google requires users to be 13 or older in the U.S. to create a Google account, while Google+ users must be 18 or older.
“There is no way anyone expected this,” Jeffrey Chester, executive director of the Center for Digital Democracy, a privacy advocacy group, also told the Washington Post. “There is no way a user can comprehend the implication of Google collecting across platforms for information about your health, political opinions and financial concerns.”
Serendipitous search is where Google is going. And that’s exactly what this quote, from the same Washington Post story, sounds like Google is moving closer toward:
"The move will help Google better tailor its ads to people’s tastes. If someone watches an NBA clip online and lives in Washington, the firm could advertise Washington Wizards tickets in that person’s Gmail account.
Consumers could also benefit, the company said. When someone is searching for the word 'jaguar,' Google would have a better idea of whether the person was interested in the animal or the car. Or the firm might suggest e-mailing contacts in New York when it learns you are planning a trip there."
Should you trust Google to not cross that line? Well, perhaps in your mind they already have. Just remember, Google has been much more than a search engine for years now. Ultimately, Google is an advertising company driven by making money, and users are the product they’re selling to advertisers.
That can’t be said anymore. Google is telling everyone when they sign up that any information they submit to Google while logged in can be used with other Google services.
Also Google has made no secret that it wants people to be “more logged into Google” – even before the launch of Google+.
Another Barrier for the SEO community
It really is just another move by Google to boost their advertising revenues and better tailor their ads to target consumers through analysing personal data about your searches and behaviour across all their products.
For the SEO community it is another barrier. The most recent algorithm change was if a user is signed in, then any data concerning their search is now kept secret in Google analytics data. Keyword data is hidden in analytic reports and recorded as “not provided”. Many SEO’s were predicting that this percentage of this data would increase. Initially it was about 2% now rising to 10%. The updated privacy policy and Google pushing for more users to be logged in when they search is only fuelling their concerns.
