Stop Google watching you

Last week, we compared Google to the all-knowing, all-powerful computer system Skynet from the Terminator films, due to the amount of knowledge that the search engine can acquire about people all over the world. However, Google has now released a new application that allows users to see and control the data that the search giant has on them.

Called Google Dashboard, the new service gives an online summary of a user's Google files such as Gmail, Google Docs, Picasa photos and so on, by collecting pre-existing privacy controls in one place.

Once all the information is gathered, Google users can then review and delete as they feel appropriate, any information or Google searches that they feel are necessary. They can also survey their interactions with other Google-affiliated websites such as YouTube.

"Over the past 11 years, Google has focused on building innovative products for our users," the company said in its official blog on Thursday. "Today, with hundreds of millions of people using those products around the world, we are very aware of the trust that you have placed in us, and our responsibility to protect your privacy and data."

Controversy

Google has courted controversy over the past few years with many, including politicians and privacy advocates, criticising its data-collection practices. One particularly vocal advocacy group, Consumer Watchdog, has called the dashboard a small step in the right direction, but still maintains its disapproval of Google's tracking programs.

"If Google really wanted to give users control over their privacy it would give consumers the ability to be anonymous from the company and its advertisers in crucial areas such as search data and online behavior," spokesman John M. Simpson said on the group's site.

"The Dashboard give the appearance of control without the actual ability to prevent Google from tracking you and delivering you to its marketers."

Others have praised Google's decision, but several bloggers have been quick to comment just how disturbing it is to actually see how much information Google has on them. Others however seem unperturbed by Google's far-reaching control, saying the lack of privacy is a small price to pay for online storage.

According to CNN, tech blogger Matt Asay of CNET said, "Dashboard leaves Google in the prime position of being able to honestly say that it doesn't control user data, while still delivering increasingly beneficial services based on that data," he wrote. "It will not change the way that the vast majority of consumers use Google, but it just might change the way they think about Google."

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