Time Will Tell If Google's Privacy Policy Remains Private

            When thinking of Internet websites and search engines almost immediately the first thing to come to mind is Google. Yes, Google, the #1 search engine and unquestionably the most frequently used site has revolutionized people’s ability to find answers to questions or information on certain topics. Google offers just as its mission statement says, “to organize the world’s information and make it universally accessible and useful” (Vaidhyanathan- Googilization of Everything). Google has become a constant part of daily culture to everyone who has access to the Internet. It’s programs under the Google name such as G-Mail, YouTube, as well as Google Chrome and Google Maps, display just how revolutionized search engines have become due to being more convenient for users. Though Google may seem to be more convenient for users it also has the ability to enter into ones private life. It claims to have privacy settings however, Google’s ability to manipulate users gives it “pretty much a lack of privacy.” Its ability to scam personal data from intimate networks reveal behavior that has not gone unnoticed by users all across the globe.

            Google’s manipulation and inappropriate behavior with its users came to boiling point with unsatisfied users in Germany and Google’s program “Street View”.  Minister Ilse Agner was quoting saying “Google has for years penetrated private networks, illegally”.  According to the report, only two weeks previous Google had been telling German consumer protections authority “that it was only recording the network’s names and addresses” when they were gathering even more personal data as well. Google’s rapid collection of personal information from Wi-Fi networks is simply an inappropriate behavior because they take advantage of users personal information. Due to uproars like this and several others that question the privacy claims of the search engine, Google said it will introduce an option that will allow “users to encrypt searches on its website as an added protection against unauthorized snooping”, however further personal information will need to be provided in doing so, causing many to question Google’s attempt at another user privacy claim.

            Google is a search engine that will continue to be used, however as it revolutionizes so do other search engines as well. It seems that only future use will show how stable Google and it’s user privacy is and will remain. Thus far its inability to affectively notify users for info and in turn hack into users personal information is clearly instability on the websites parts. It will be interesting to see if the encrypting of searches will have a positive or negative effect for Google and its users. The only thing one can do is continue to use the website hoping for improved privacy or use an alternative search engine. Time will tell if Google’s privacy policy will in fact remain private.