Google Dashboard: An Exercise in Transparency or an Empty Gesture?

POSTED BY: Claire Eden   /  CATEGORIES: Online PR Agency, Social Media Agency
POSTED ON: 06 Nov 2009
TAGS: Google, Online PR Agency, Social Media Agency

This week saw the launch of Google Dashboard, with which users can view the information Google has collected on them in relation to various Google services. Google Dashboard allows users to view and manage information related to the Google products they use when signed into their Google account, such as Gmail, Google Calendar and Docs, YouTube, and web history.

“In an effort to provide you with greater transparency and control over their own data, we’ve built the Google Dashboard. Designed to be simple and useful, the Dashboard summarizes data for each product that you use (when signed in to your account) and provides you direct links to control your personal settings. The scale and level of detail of the Dashboard is unprecedented, and we’re delighted to be the first Internet company to offer this — and we hope it will become the standard.”

However, the general consensus online seems to be that this is a move on Google’s part to appear more open by putting control over data collection back in the hands of its users (prompted by concerns raised about the amount of user data Google collects) while actually not telling us very much that we didn’t already know.

Readwriteweb points out that that the data provided on the dashboard is not the data Google’s really interested in – what’s more relevant is how the data is used to target Adsense Ads at the right users, and this information is the data Google is unlikely to share.

So how often will most Google account owners really use the Dashboard? While it may make users feel reassured that they are able to have some control of their privacy (and also freak us out a bit about the amount of data Google has on us), it seems unlikely to be used a great deal. As CNet says:

“Still, it’s almost certainly never going to be used by the vast majority of Google users. Ever. Why? Because for all our hand-wringing over privacy—and for good reason—the reality is that most of us, most of the time, really don’t care. Or, rather, if accessing useful services or getting work done more efficiently requires some privacy concessions, we gladly concede. It’s not that we don’t value our privacy. It’s just that in many contexts, we value other things as much or more. We weigh the risks versus the benefits, and often the benefits trump the privacy risks.”

So what do you think? As people are increasingly using social media properties, more and more of their personal information is accessible to Google …so is this a useful tool and exercise in transparency or simply an empty gesture on Google’s part to appear less evil?

 

POSTED BY: Claire Eden   /  CATEGORIES: Online PR Agency, Social Media Agency
POSTED ON: 06 Nov 2009
TAGS: Google, Online PR Agency, Social Media Agency

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