Inside Google

I was surprised today when Internet giant Google today removed the "Beta" or test label from its new Chrome browser. Four-year-old Gmail still carries the "Beta" label. Despite the changes, though, the Web browser still offers inadequate protection for users’ privacy.

They’ve made a token gesture on privacy, but really haven’t faced up to the key issue. Most users simply do not realize they are in an unnoticed conversation with Google’s servers that gathers identifiable personal data.

Google has grouped most of the options relating to privacy issues in one place on the menu bar. Finding those options is not simple and requires several clicks away from the browser’s home page. The settings do allow a user to opt out of providing personal data.

But while it’s true a user can opt out of sharing personal information with Google and not give data to its servers, the default mode is to provide information.

I acknowledge that providing information can enhance a user’s browsing experience. However, users must understand they are turning over private, identifiable data when they use such functions as auto suggest.

The default mode for any feature that gathers data from a user’s computer should be "off." If users decide the benefits of the feature warrant turning over data, then they can give informed consent and opt in. Google, for its own commercial purposes, has it backwards.

Google is known for keeping products in "Beta" or test mode for a long time. Its popular e-mail service, Gmail, launched four years ago, still carries the Beta label. Chrome was in Beta mode for only 100 days. Analysts note that so far it has won only about one percent of the browser market, while arch-rival Microsoft’s Internet Explorer has about 70 percent. Mozilla’s Firefox has about 20 percent.

Take a look at our videos demonstrating problems with privacy for users of Google’s and products.

Google may have removed the "Beta" label, but Chrome has one big bug: it doesn’t adequately address privacy concerns.