Finally, Google has added a “privacy” link to its home page which directs users to Google’s Privacy Center which contains a link to Google’s Privacy Overview and Privacy Policy plus other product specific privacy statement. The Privacy Center even gives a some bonus privacy videos, all explaining how Google is “committed to transparency and choice.”
The Privacy Overview explains in simple terms how Google values users personal information and what it does, it doesn’t, will and won’t do with these information.
Interestingly, as what NYT noted, both the Official Google Blog and Google Public Policy Blog did not give any reference to the California Online Privacy Protection Act of 2003. Instead Marissa Mayer, VP Search Products & User Experience posted in the blog that:
Google values our users’ privacy first and foremost. Trust is the basis of everything we do, so we want you to be familiar and comfortable with the integrity and care we give your personal data. We added this link both to our homepage and to our results page to make it easier for you to find information about our privacy principles.
Interestingly again, the word “Google” had to be dropped from the copyright statement to give way to the “privacy” link. Ms. Meyer said that Google’s Home Page needs to maintain a certain “weight” and would not be able to accomodate an additional word into the home page. Hence, Google was dropped and its place you have the word “privacy.”
Funny thing is, if you read the line, it would appear that the page was copyrighted by a firm named “privacy” rather than “by” Google. But like Ms. Meyer said, it was already implied on the Google’s Home Page that the site was after all owned and copyrighted by Google.
