Posted August last year, here is Google's "information we collect and why it is safe" video ...
In their own words ... In the first in a series of short, informative videos on privacy,
Google talks about what information we collect when you use our search
engine and the steps we've taken to protect it. In future videos, we'll
talk about why Google keeps logs, what information we record when
you're signed into a Google account and steps you can take to increase
your privacy when surfing online. Much of this information is already
available at our online Privacy Center at http://www.google.com/privacy.html
"Cookie logs don't have any truly personal identifiable information in them" ... Hhmm .. I guess I missed the part about not correlating any of the search terms, logs to the actual Google account being used. Don't worry you say, I didn't give them any personal details when I set up the account ...
OK, let me clarify. Google sets cookies to track me (sure I can delete them). If I log in to my Google account, they know where I logged in from and can correlate my search terms ... and where I live and purchase history via Google Checkout ... assuming they don't buy any third party data sources and correlate additional data as well ... since DoubleClick is also one of the largest digital advertising, they're not likely to want to track anything interesting about for me, for say, behavioral targeting or link my demographics to a target profile or segment ... right?
Refer screen capture below (personal details purposely blacked out) ... If I look up my account details, Google has my home address (by the way they got this from my credit card details when I used Google Checkout), my credit card number ... oh, and my purchase history - BTW, Google has never shipped anything to me ever, however, they've got my shipping address, and thoughtfully figured out that I'm a busy guy and would like to have it shipped to home ... nice of them to personally aggregate it in one place for me ... not personally indentifiable, right?

Just thought you might like to know.



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