Privacy Groups Miss The Point: It's Not Where Google's Privacy Policy Is, It's What It Does

from the focusing-on-the-wrong-thing dept

Wed, Jun 4th 2008 8:01am — Mike Masnick

Last week, we wrote about the ridiculous concerns being raised by a few privacy advocates that (gasp!) Google doesn't include a link to its privacy policy on the front page. This seemed like a really pointless concern since almost no one reads these privacy policies anyway, and those who do often misunderstand the policy anyway. Besides, there are plenty of companies out there that don't even abide by their own privacy policies. In other words, the real issue isn't where the privacy policy is, but whether or not the company actually keeps its promises and treats its users' data properly.

And yet... a bunch of consumer and privacy groups, including ones I respect like the EFF and the ACLU are now trying to turn this into a big deal by publicly demanding that Google add a link to its privacy policy on its home page. This isn't about privacy. This is "privacy theater." It's about putting on a good show that has nothing to do with whether or not Google is doing right by its users. If there's a link to Google's privacy policy on its front page or not, it won't change what Google does with users' info, and it almost certainly won't change the way anyone (other than maybe these groups) view Google. It's all a big show for no reason. There are plenty of important causes that these groups should be working on. Worrying whether or not Google links to its privacy policy from its front page or one page deep is silly pandering.

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Filed Under: aclu, eff, hype, privacy, privacy policies, privacy theater
Companies: aclu, eff, google

27 Comments

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Jeremy M, 4 Jun 2008 @ 8:25am

Silly Pandering indeed!
This just goes to show you the fusses these groups get into to seem bigger than they really are.

Personally, I don't care about Google's Privacy Policy. Why? They've given so much to us (myself being a user) and NOT spammed their users with third party stuff. There's no reason not to expect them to hold fast to their high level of trust between them and their user base.
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about nothing, 4 Jun 2008 @ 8:28am

Much ado
While I agree this is silly pandering with little real benefit to the consumer I fail to see why Google doesn't simply add a link to avoid the bad publicity. A single link next to the three already on the home page
(Advertising Programs - Business Solutions - About Google)
won't clutter the page nor detract from the user experience.

It is silly for these groups to take a shot a Google for not displaying some meaningless eye-candy and it is just plain stupid for Google to dig its heels in on such a minor tweak to the home page.
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- Jed, 4 Jun 2008 @ 2:02pm
  
  Re: Much ado
  I once read in a magazine interview with Google that adding a short sentence to their home page cost them many millions of dollars (I forget how many) in bandwidth costs per day. A HTML link like privacy policy would be nearly the same size in bytes.
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  - Dan Houser, CISSP, etc., 3 Jul 2008 @ 9:32am
    
    Re: Re: Much ado
    Doesn't pass the bologna test. You're asking me to believe that 150 bytes would create nearly $1 BILLION change in telco charges. Completely unbelievable.
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Anonymous Coward, 4 Jun 2008 @ 8:33am

If I were looking for Google's privacy policy I might think the "About Google" link on their front page would be a good palce to start. And I'd be right. It's right there at the bottom.
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- Kevin, 4 Jun 2008 @ 9:42am
  
  Re:
  If I were looking for Google's privacy policy I might think the "About Google" link on their front page would be a good palce to start. And I'd be right. It's right there at the bottom.
  
  Hmm...if I'm at www.google.com and I want to see their privacy policy, what might be a good way to SEARCH for it? Oh, I know. How about googling the words "google privacy policy"? I don't know what's so hard about that.
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Michael Sherrin (profile), 4 Jun 2008 @ 8:47am

What's a privacy policy
The even silly question to ask is how many people read privacy policies, no matter where they are (aside from lawyers looking for someone to sue?).
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Suman Bolar, 4 Jun 2008 @ 8:50am

Shift of focus?
The privacy policy is one page in, logically (and clearly) placed in the "about google" section. In terms of branding, a huge part of Google's initial appeal was that it broke away from the clutter of other search engines of the time (yahoo, infoseek, et al) and gave us a clean page that let us do what we were there to do (search) without clicking off at tangents. How about focusing on consistent enforcement of stated privacy policies instead of nitpicking about placement?
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Melvillain, 4 Jun 2008 @ 9:03am

Much ado about nothing
What is this obsession with privacy? Are people just now aware that they are shouting out their personal information every time they go online? You're right Mike, it's not about where their privacy policy is posted but, what they do with our info. The internet operates on a public trust that our personal information won't be abused. I agree, that's an a--load of trust but, so far it's all we have.
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Anonymous Coward, 4 Jun 2008 @ 9:05am

if a privacy policy can't be found, does it really exist?
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bobbknight, 4 Jun 2008 @ 9:07am

I recall
Was it not Google that told the Feds to Fuck Off when the feds came looking for information?
I trust Google more than the ACLU.
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Tim, 4 Jun 2008 @ 9:22am

As if it really mattered..
They already added it to the links at the bottom of the page. Problem solved.......now go away!
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Yakko Warner, 4 Jun 2008 @ 9:23am

Nothing better to do?
What the heck is the ACLU doing getting involved in this? What civil liberties are being violated here?

Although Google could easily shut them up by putting a link on the home page (and their reasoning for not doing so is pretty silly; it wouldn't add *that* much clutter to their page, not any more than is already there), there is absolutely nothing wrong with where the link is now.

Can Google sue for defamation for these groups trying to make a public spectacle out of this non-issue? If they think a law has been violated, let them take Google to court, where they can attempt to explain to a judge how clicking "About Google" and "Privacy Policy" is too hard.
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Zabi, 4 Jun 2008 @ 9:37am

Bored and have nothing to do....
I tell you, these people have nothing else to do. this shows how useless all these groups are. just looking for tiney detailed and useless things to make our lives a living hell... these are the people why coffee cups have a warning on them " contents may be hot"
and if someone wants to read the damn policy... just google it and it pops up in front of you......

by the way, i use iGoogle and it's right there at the bottom of the page saying.... "privacy policy".
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Monarch, 4 Jun 2008 @ 9:39am

There is a link for Google's Privacy Policy on my personal Google Home page. Not sure if it has ever been there before, but it is now. Never looked for it in the past
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Ummm, 4 Jun 2008 @ 9:52am

Its there
now
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- Oops, 4 Jun 2008 @ 9:52am
  
  Re: Its there
  now, on igoogle.
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Jim, 4 Jun 2008 @ 10:11am

Google "Google Privacy Policy"
Presumably someone using Google could manage to search for "Google Privacy Policy." Not surprisingly, it's the first link returned. Perhaps the EFF and ACLU lawyers need a tech tutorial. I will note, there is a link to the privacy policy at the bottom of iGoogle pages.
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Clueby4, 4 Jun 2008 @ 10:16am

He who will fool me at play, will fool me any way...
I'm not sure, if you can't even get them to put the frelling link on the front page. Then I seriously doubt you can get them to agree on more important things.

The issue is being blown up by google not anyone else, put the link out there and don't get lippy about "creativity" or "clean" home pages. As if; Advertising Programs, Business Solutions, or that filthy copyright symbol doesn't already soil the precious home page.
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Anonymous Coward, 4 Jun 2008 @ 10:19am

Anyone that signs up for an online email account with their real name is retarded. And also to search anything while logged into that email account on their search engine.

Wise up folks.

Butte Muncher
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Jeff, 4 Jun 2008 @ 10:21am

iGoogle
What are they talking about? I use iGoogle's homepage feature and at the bottom, TA-DA! A privacy policy link!

I mean, I understand that it's not on the classic home page, but really, is it that hard to find? Let's find out. Hmm, let's see... Oh! 'About Google'... *click*... THAR IT IS! Google isn't trying to hide anything. I guess we just have some lazy people is all...
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claire rand, 4 Jun 2008 @ 10:23am

mission creep
if they put the 'privacy policy' link in.. how long before someone decides they need a home page link for say their 'equal opportunities' policy? or their environmental policy?

googles home page works because there is so little on it
ffs leave it alone
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John D, 4 Jun 2008 @ 11:12am

Liar or Moron?
From the article:

'Ms Givens, of Privacy Rights Clearinghouse, said: "I went through the exercise of finding [Google's] privacy policy and it's not easy. It's not intuitive and it's not a couple of clicks. You have to work at it.'

And yet, I was able to get to it in three clicks. (About Google -> Privacy Policy -> Google Privacy Policy).

It's one thing to say you don't agree with the way a company does something, but why does this woman feel the need to lie about it to make her point?

Pathetic!
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brazel, 4 Jun 2008 @ 11:42am

little details
Everyone else has a privacy link on their home page, what's the big deal? Maybe Google is allergic to privacy, or even the word "privacy".
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Eric Goldman (profile), 4 Jun 2008 @ 3:01pm

I agree...but...
Mike, you're right (as usual) that the drumbeat on this topic is wasteful showboating. However, from my perspective, the real villains are the politicians who have legislatively mandated that websites put specific words on their home pages regarding privacy. It's never good when politicians try to control user interfaces. On the other hand, it's completely fair game for the advocacy groups to identify companies who aren't complying with the law and push for compliance. (I'm not saying Google isn't in compliance, but clearly the privacy groups think so). Eric.
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John (profile), 4 Jun 2008 @ 3:09pm

Fortune and glory
To take a quote from an Indiana Jones movie, it sounds like this issue is about "fortune and glory".

All of the "privacy companies" will gain "glory" (actually "notoriety") and bragging rights because they were the ones who "forced big bad Google to do what we want".

It's very telling that they go after a fairly small issue (where to place a link on a site) rather than the larger issue of auditing sites to make sure they follow their own privacy policy. But, which issue is easier to handle and which will bring them "we beat Google" bragging rights faster?
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Dan Houser, CISSP, etc., 3 Jul 2008 @ 9:30am

Actually, I do care
Does this matter about Google? Not if they're the only ones who aren't compliant. However, I actually review and use privacy policies, and they really do matter. Clear and conspicuous is law for a reason... without it, we would never be able to have an idea what their privacy stance is. I'm not deluded enough to believe it's a guarantee, but it is a legal contract, and a strong indicator of their privacy beliefs.
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