Written on 20 Feb 2012 by It is true that in the vast world of the Internet, there really is no privacy. However, one of the main concerns that internet browsers have is that they have the capability of being tracked by companies such as Google. Google may track the user’s activities to determine trends, customize options for you or simply to record the data via cookies. However, there is a P3P – a platform for privacy preferences – that companies like Google are supposed to use in order to disclose their privacy policies. Has Google defied this requirement?
It has been determined that Google defied the P3P with Safari, by actually sending out a P3P that in essence stated it had no privacy policy thus allowing them to track users via cookies and to record user information. Microsoft discovered after hearing about the Safari breach, that Google had indeed done the same thing to Internet Explorer users. Microsoft contacted Google after learning of the experience and asked them to honor the P3P settings for all internet users.
Why is this a big deal? In short, Google is refusing to adhere to the P3P settings and is using special codes in order to get around the browser’s privacy policy. The reason: by applying the coding, the company is able to allow Google+ users to be able to click a “+1” button in order to share an item with its circle of Google+ users. After being contacted by the Wall Street Journal, Google allegedly removed the coding that allowed the giant to track user activities despite the P3P in place by Safari.
Google later responded to the allegations by Wall Street Journal by stating that they simply removed the barrier that kept Google users who were signed into their accounts from viewing the optimized ads that they requested. As a result, Google applied some code that allowed the users to do so without revealing personal user information. Google claims that Wall Street Journal mischaracterized their actions. While this is a good debate between the two giants – it definitely raises the question – just how safe is your information?
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