Google’s announcement of major privacy setting changes has prompted many serious allegations.

Their privacy page states that it will condense all Google’s systems in a new system, called Google Docs. User agreements and personal data will stream across all of its services and Google will not allow users to opt-out of their personal data being shared.

Searches done on Google’s site will be made relevant to each user by using data from their previous searches and e-mails. Google will compile users’ personal data and target specific ads to them based on their online history. 

Anyone who does not want their information to be compiled and shared must stop using Google services. There is no opting out.

There may be concern on the Moorpark campus given that Google manages the Ventura County District’s e-mail accounts. However, students do not need to worry about their academic e-mail accounts being affected. 

Moorpark College e-mail accounts, as part of the college district, will not be subject to the same privacy changes. 

Giovanni Rangel, a 19-year-old Moorpark College psychology major, said his feelings were mixed on the Google account integration.

“To be honest I think there may be problems in the simplicity.  Many people share home computers. If I have a Google+ account it may link it to my sisters YouTube account because I am on the same computer.”

We attempted to ask Google about their policy changes but they did not reply to our inquiries. 

Google has posted on their Web site “our new policy reflects our desire to create a simple product experience that does what you need, when you want it to.” While there is no doubt that Google loves being in control of user data, the trade-off seems fair given the benefits of clearer and more relevant search results. 

The full details of Google’s new policies can be found here.