At FTC's Urging, Google Posts Privacy Policy for Books

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on September 4, 2009 - 5:58am.

Washington - Responding to an inquiry from the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), Google (NASD: GOOG) has agreed to develop and publish a privacy policy for its Google Book Search product, which will inform consumers how personal data may be used by the company. "The Google Books initiative could provide a wealth of benefits for consumers, yet it also raises serious privacy challenges because of the vast amount of user information that could be collected," FTC chairman Jon Leibowitz said in a statement.

Google went so far as to publish a draft of a new policy on its website, which mentions features like the ability for users to maintain an online list of their favorite books, and their book reviews.

It also spells out that users will not have to create Google accounts, or register in any way with Google, in order to browse books in the digital index, or to access the index from schools or public libraries.

Users will need a Google account in order to purchase books, but the company said it "plan(s) to build protections to limit the information (such as book titles) available to credit card companies about book purchases, and to enable you to delete or disassociate the titles of books purchased from your Google Account."

Google also said it will adhere to FTC guidelines governing how companies can track consumers' online behavior for the purpose of targeting ads.

In addition to concerns over privacy, high profile opponents of the settlement including Amazon, Microsoft and Yahoo said in a legal brief that they believe the deal will give Google monopoly control over the digital books market.

Briefs supporting or opposing the settlement are due by Tuesday, while oral arguments on the proposed settlement are scheduled for Oct. 7 in New York.

http://books.google.com/googlebooks/privacy.html

http://www.googlebookssettlement.com/

http://www.ftc.gov