February 23rd, 2007
Google Apps data risks: Security vs. privacy
A debate is underway: “Will you trust Google with your data?” Fellow ZDNet blogger Larry Dignan has been examining the prospective data security risks Google Apps Premier may pose.
I propose that the debate be widened to encompass the data privacy risks that Google Apps, both Standard and Premier pose, risks I have been documenting and analyzing since Google Apps premiered last August.
Upon Google Apps launch last August, I dissected its Terms of Service to conclude: “Google’s not so fine print: Google Apps TOS put Google first” and in “Google Apps is risky business” I underscored:
Google makes its tempting let us be the experts while you run your business pitch hard to resist. However, organizations will resist if they are concerned about,
Ownership and control of proprietary data,
Privacy of employee communications,
Control over content hosted,
Data integrity…
In “Free Google GMail: the high price you pay” I put forth how Gmail users submit to the contents of every personal and business email ever written or sent being recorded and permanently archived on third party servers located in countries throughout the world, to which they have no access.
In “Beware Yahoo Mail and Microsoft Hotmail, too” I underscore that the data privacy risks posed by Web-based Gmail are also posed by Web-based Yahoo Mail and Microsoft Hotmail.
I cited The Center for Digital Democracy and the U.S. Public Interest Research Group in a November 1, 2006, “Complaint and Request for Inquiry and Injunctive Relief Concerning Unfair and Deceptive Online Marketing Practices” with the Federal Trade Commission:
Current privacy disclosure policies are totally inadequate, failing to effectively inform users how and what data are being collected and used.
ZDNet readers are TalkingBack to point out prospective data privacy risks of Google Apps Premier, discussing my “Google undercuts Microsoft Office”:
eguepard@…: Google NSA: As long as Google keeps EVERY nanobit of information, searches, or email you use with their services! I don't see any business allowing their employees using this service.
WHAT A DATA MINE!
Frgough: You have discovered the big Google secret. They are all about data mining. Everything they do is geared toward mining data.
Daniel King: It's only a matter of time…For some businesses, there will be concerns about all the data google holds. However, we're all slowly moving to a world where privacy's becoming harder to sustain anyway.
Mr_Wizard: It's Just A Matter of Time? “we're all slowly moving to a world where privacy's becoming harder to sustain anyway…" — well then, let's all just use Google Apps and hurry the loss of privacy along!
Rude Unio: It's an unknown at this point…How safe is my data and e-mails from internal Google employee eyes?
