Google rolled out its new privacy policy yesterday allowing the firm to track users across various services to develop targeted advertising,despite sharp criticism from US and European consumer advocacy groups. Google contends the move simplifies and unifies its policies across its various services such as Gmail,YouTube,Android mobile systems,social networks and Internet search. “The new policy doesn’t change any existing privacy settings or how any personal information is shared outside of Google,”Google privacy chief Alma Whitten said on the Google Blog today.
But critics including European privacy agencies and US consumer watchdogs argued the new policy,which offers no ability to opt out aside from refraining from signing into Google services,gives the Internet giant unprecedented ability to monitor its users. “Calling this a ‘privacy policy’is Orwellian doublespeak,”said John Simpson of the US advocacy group Consumer Watchdog. “Google isn’t telling you about protecting your privacy. Google is telling you how they will gather information about you on all its services,combine it in new ways and use the fat new digital dossiers to sell more ads. They’re telling you how they plan to spy on you. It’s a spy policy.”
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