Google’s Privacy concerns have been a long time contentious issue. The giant search engine has been facing accusations that include acquiring information about online habits, getting information from Wi-Fi network and not complying with data protection rules of a few nations. You can buy any app from an Apple store with the assurance that your identity will be kept under wraps. Not so if you go in for a paid Android App- Google sends the buyer’s personal details automatically to the developer. This can cause a series of unwarranted problems – information can be used maliciously or a vendor might coerce their customer to change unfavourable reviews.
Eyeing the profits:
Google Wallet has been reverted back with a statement which says that it shares the information needed to process transactions and this is clearly mentioned in its privacy notice. The company has new privacy policy which states that the search engine has the right to integrate all the information from all sources even from those which are not authorized by the provider – even senders of email to a Gmail account.
It wouldn’t be too farfetched to presume that there is a selfish motive behind these privacy settings- maximum profits for the company and the shareholders. As per procedures, companies should have external directors and large voting shares which reduces the chances of such corporate actions. It places focus on the skewed governance structure of the search engine major.
Charges of a high handed behaviour:
The accusations against the search engine are anything but frivolous. Its actions are serious and have clearly put it in the dock:
For Street view, it has been involved in acquiring 600 gigabytes of space in an underhand way. For obstructing investigations and withholding information, the search engine giant was fined $25,000. The tool bar spyware actually keeps a track of each website you search or visit. Google Analytics, a tool that helps businesses track and analysis traffic, has also been under scanner. All the IP addresses are presented to the search engine which can track their activities. It has been charged of hacking into iPhones and tracking its users, an accusation which may lead to FTC fining it $10 million. Its promotion and preference of its own products and the discrimination against its competitors has already led to ill feeling. For instance, it’s preference for G+ has not gone down too well with competitors like Facebook, Twitter, and MySpace.
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