Back on January 25, 2012 Google started to let its users know that big changes were coming to the service’s privacy policies. Google explains the changes in terms of simplifying the Google search experience by combining all profiles of a user into one neat package. According to Google “the main change is for users with Google Accounts. Our new Privacy Policy makes clear that, if you’re signed in, we may combine information you’ve provided from one service with information from other services. In short, we’ll treat you as a single user across all our products, which will mean a simpler, more intuitive Google experience.”

Now obviously from the perspective of Google this is a seamless transition designed in a manner to simplify the lives of everyone involved, both the team at Google and users of Google products. Therefore, these changes to the privacy policies would affect a user’s Google, Google+, Gmail, YouTube, Picasa and other profiles that each particular individual has with Google. Isn’t this a good thing for everyone, the ease of all of your profiles being combined into an easy-to-manage package?

The problem is Google has already been in hot water several times due to its habit of creating tools that can possibly invade the privacy of people using its services. As recently as December 19, 2011 Senators Mike Lee and Herb Kohl drafted a formal letter of complaint to the FTC regarding possible anti-trust violations performed by Google. Today, February 8, 2012 the Electronic Privacy Information Center filed a formal complaint with a federal district court in Washington, D.C. in an effort to sue the Federal Trade Commission and prevent Google from launching the new privacy policy that is scheduled to be effective on March 1. EPIC’s contention is that this privacy policy is in direct violation to an agreement Google signed October of last year regarding privacy issues with Google Buzz since the new privacy policy effectively combines user profiles without those users’ written consent.

One of the biggest issues to be concerned with is whether the new privacy policy will allow advertisers to gain access to users’ personal data. Google claims it is not collecting new data nor sharing anything with any third parties.

Let’s hope not!