Google Adds Privacy Policy Link

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After a month of pressure from privacy groups, search engine Google has finally agreed to add a link on its homepage to the company's privacy policy. Google had resisted the addition of a privacy link, saying it did not want to clutter its homepage. "We're making a homepage change by adding a link to our privacy overview and policies," Marissa Mayer, vice president of Search Products & User Experience, said in a July 3 Google Blog post. "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."

Google's privacy policy came under fire in early June when EPIC (Electronic Privacy Information Center), Privacy Rights Clearinghouse, the World Privacy Forum, Consumer Action, the EFF (Electronic Frontier Foundation), the ACLU of Northern California, and the Consumer Federation of California sent a letter to Google CEO Eric Schmidt complaining that under California law, a commercial Web site must "conspicuously post its privacy policy on its Web site."

View: Full Story at eWeek

#1 +M2Ys4U on 07 Jul 2008 - 20:21

Wasn't the policy already available, just not from a direct link on the google.com homepage?

If so, I think Google were right resisting the change and cluttering up their home page.

#2 mentalindustries on 07 Jul 2008 - 20:27

Couldn't the complainers just google it?

(2 replies) #3 C_Guy on 07 Jul 2008 - 20:55

"Google values our users' privacy first and foremost"

Ha ha ha, the link must be labeled 'Joke of the Day'. It's actually not that funny anymore, Google, it's OLD.

#3.1 +Dakkaroth on 08 Jul 2008 - 09:32

You mean just like your posts which consist of the idea that Google has the manpower to read everyone's email just so they can put a dumb little advertisement on the side?

Yeah, real old.

#3.2 Eis on 08 Jul 2008 - 19:45

(C_Guy said @ #3)

Yeah, I'm with you. Damn Google and their ways of constantly looking out for their users. They're just so evil.

#4 netutgamer on 07 Jul 2008 - 21:15

Unless you are a mobile user, and decide you want to read their privacy statement whilst sat on the train, as you won't find the privacy link on the mobile google page (http://www.google.com/mobile/default/search/index.html) you will be forced to google for it.

Although reading google's privacy statement isn't really that high up my priority list let alone on the screen of a n95!

(1 reply) #5 Antaris on 07 Jul 2008 - 21:16

saying it did not want to clutter its homepage

Clutter? That's the lamest excuse for avoiding a privacy policy I've ever heard.

#5.1 BBinder on 07 Jul 2008 - 21:20

OMG the CLUTTER is UNBEARABLE

(1 reply) #6 lylesback2 on 07 Jul 2008 - 23:14

you mean that little 6 letter word at the bottom of the page....

#6.1 Marty2003 on 08 Jul 2008 - 17:50

No, actually it's the 7-letter word :p

#7 PermaSt0ne on 08 Jul 2008 - 03:07

i noticed the link before i saw this news story and it is indeed clutter. it was always publicly available, just not on their main page. there is NO reason to put it on the main page

the thing people like about google is that there's just one search box surrounded by white except a couple of useful links at the top. that's it. no news stories or advertisements. plain and simple

the link throws off the balance and sticks out like a sore thumb. no reason for it at all

#8 osirisX on 08 Jul 2008 - 03:44

The Google logo clutters up the page more than the privacy policy link. They should get rid of it! Infact, it will have the nice side effect of making the page load a little faster!!!!111

#9 James7 on 08 Jul 2008 - 07:28

They've got some videos on that privacy link explaining what they are about, so it's more than just the text of their privacy policy.

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