Google launched a new update to its terms of service on Friday and it likely won’t sit well with millions of users. Under the company’s new terms Google says it will take users’ profile names and photos and use them to endorse products across the Google products platform.
Google also updated its mobile device safety and password confidentiality clauses but those changes haven’t received the same type of focus.
Speaking about the changes Google responded:
“We want to give you – and your friends and connections – the most useful information. Recommendations from people you know can really help. So your friends, family and others may see your Profile name and photo, and content like the reviews you share or the ads you +1’d. This only happens when you take an action (things like +1’ing, commenting or following) – and the only people who see it are the people you’ve chosen to share that content with. On Google, you’re in control of what you share. This update to our Terms of Service doesn’t change in any way who you’ve shared things with in the past or your ability to control who you want to share things with in the future.”
“Feedback from people you know can save you time and improve results for you and your friends across all Google services, including Search, Maps, Play and in advertising,” Google says. “For example, your friends might see that you rated an album 4 stars on the band’s Google Play page. And the +1 you gave your favorite local bakery could be included in an ad that the bakery runs through Google.”
Google’s “shared endorsements” can be turned off by adjusting your settings and by default they are turned on. Google says it will respect any ad settings in the future so make your way to the link I just posted to save yourself a headache later.
Please note, the Google Settings option only applies to ads and not other Google products. If Google attempts to use your likeness in the future you will likely have to turn off more settings.
Google users under the age of 18 will not appear in “shared endorsements” ads or other Google products?
