Homework # 3

Michael Brothers

Due: 2/7/2012

MIS

In the article “Google Launches Marketing Campaign on Security and Privacy” written by Sara Yin it expresses how the search engine company Google has launched a multi-million dollar ad blitz promoting online privacy and security. This new campaign was designed to help Google gain back their reputation after having a bad reputation for securing their users personal and private information. For years this major search engine has been blasted by journalists, security experts, politicians, and privacy watchdogs for violating, sometimes unlawfully, its users' online privacy. Many may remember when Google accidentally exposed the contacts of its Gmail users, when it launched the now-defunct Google Buzz social networking site back in the year 2010. This exposure resulted in a class action lawsuit, and even Federal Trade Commission (FTC) settlements. Recently, Google said it will it allow its users to have the option to decline having their Wi-Fi location data tracked. Following, earlier this year, Google changed the results displayed by its search engine to include data from Google+, such as photos or blog posts; this prompted a Federal Trade Commission (FTC) investigation. The ads direct its users to its "Good to Know" website, this website contains multiple different tips for staying safe online and learning how to manage the data you share with Google and other websites. It is also meant to teach people about things such as “cookies” “malware” and “two-step authentication” and there’s also a section on managing the data that you share online. The website also gives tips on how to delete cookies and take chat conversations off the record. Jeff Chester, executive director of the Center for Digital Democracy said; "This campaign should be nominated for some kind of award for fiction," and he also stated that “If grades were given out for privacy protection, Google would get a D plus." Google is hoping to reverse all negative connotations geared towards them from the past, wanting to regain their customers trust by ensuring them that all personal information is safe and secure.