Whose choice is it anyway?
by Bianca Bernstein
In line with all the recent publicity that Google has been receiving as a result of their new products: personalised search, search history and the personalised homepage, I have some questions: Why does Google set the search history function to default? Why is the option to reset this default as non-functional on your own page not highlighted in a way that would immediately jump out at users? Why is this issue of utter importance overlooked? Is it not perceived as important?
As mentioned in a previous post, Google sets the search history as a default, so that the minute you enter Google world, your search behaviour is being monitored until you notice the tiny option that allows you to switch it off. While I understand what it is that Google is trying to do in the way of making things more convenient for its users, it also seems that they may have overlooked people’s growing need for privacy. Essentially, what happens if you don’t cotton on to the fact that you can reset the default, is that Google search monitors end up recording your search history until you no longer allow this. What do they do with the information? How long do they store such information for?
Monitoring someone’s search might not offend them in the slightest, and in fact, they might even feel that they are making a great contribution by allowing their search to be monitored, like a guinea pig? But there are individuals who find having search monitored without their knowledge and such a small option changer just a little bit insulting.
I think that this is something important for Google to consider before they continue and this service grows bigger and increases the chance of more offended people.
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