In today’s post of CloudCodes, we are going to aware readers with data privacy concerns taken by search engine organizations for their consumers. Specifically, we are going to cover more about Google search engine because it is more widely used among people these days.
In today’s era, the internet services have an indispensable role in the life of human beings, including the use of search engines. This is a platform where instantaneous use of information is not only a ‘nice to have’ for Cyber researchers and writers, now its the basic principle for people living in modern society. It has become the platform from where we can carry away the business of shopping, takeout food, restaurants, know about trending fashion, and even find new friends and lovers too. In simple words, without search engines, the system that results in the creation of the modern world starts to falter. With the passing of days, people are more and more getting dependent on search engines but, it might be instructive to learn how much amount of data is handled by Google. There are seven with a minimum of one billion clients within the range of Google products. As per the data privacy policy, Google’s parent company i.e., Alphabet sketches its wide and far-reaching information collection. The total amount of data stored by the company is simply staggering.
Shocking Fact – Google alone holds around 15 exabytes of content within it.
Apart from Google search engine, there are other players in the same field, like Bing, Yahoo search, and Baidu. However, there could only be one single ‘Gorilla in Sandpit’, which is undoubtedly Google. In order to learn that ‘How internet search engines might infringe on client’s data privacy concerns’, we are here to tell users that want companies’ owners are doing regarding the same.
Nothing Is Free In Today’s Date; Search Engines As Well
Customers are becoming more and more known with a very old principle i.e., ‘nothing is free in life, especially in digitization world’. Relating to this same statement, there exists one more popular saying – If something is available for free, you are achieving what you deserve.
Herein comes the major issue with the approach to use search engines! They benefit consumers with some essential services but, they are availed for free. The price is a certain intrusion level into the lives of the individuals, which is in the form of search engine organizations like Google. These firms collect the data of their clients, detect regular habits of them over the internet, and use this sort of information for fining tune marketing attempts.
Warning – There are chances that organizations may sell the gathered data to the 3rd party for their profit.
Only this is the outcome of working on search engines! For several customers and customer advocate teams, the main issue lies deeper than that. It moves around the awareness regarding data privacy concerns and permissions associated with it. Now some question arises in mind that ‘Are search engine firms completely authentic to collect consumers’ information? Will they use consumers content without explicit permission? Are these companies allowed to opt out from such data privacy policies?”
The answer to the posted questions is Yes, No, and No respectively. It is the duty of consumers to read ‘user agreements’ provided by the search engine organization. This will make it clear that clients are giving authority to search engine organizations to use their data, which they are collecting in any way that is suitable for them. In this type of scenario, the actual problem arises when collecting information and leveraging of that record for company’s growth might result in a betrayal sort of relationship between search engine service provider and consumers. The main reason behind this is the absence of data privacy concerns from the end of consumers and may be, service providers as well.
Is Google Taking Data Privacy Concerns Seriously?
So far, Google has been providing its best in aspect of Cyber security – It is better than many other organizations in the same field. However, the chance of mistakes by employees is a genuine problem! In the year 2009, a bug was encountered in Google docs, which exposed 0.05% of all files saved on the cloud storage. Considering the percentage then, it does not seem to be a terrible huge number. Still, 05 percent of one billion users is equal to 500,000 individuals. Google comprises of no space for error to occur when it is majorly about data security.
Actually It’s Complicated
The search for a middle point between individual rights for data privacy concerns and bedrock of data security vs the official relationship between themselves and the service engine firm – is filled with complexities. What’s coming more and more clear is that ‘the new paradigm must be expanded.’ Users who secure the business interests of organizations, offer free services and individual rights. Whether the respective relationship will be described legally or by legislation, it will always be seen to public worldwide.