In honor of Data Privacy Day, Google has put together the above video explaining how they protect your privacy. Really, it’s more like “How we use your data, but only to make your life better, so it’s all good right guys?”

Google’s 5 Principles (my thoughts in blue italics)

* Use information to provide our users with valuable products and services. (so we can sell them ads!)
* Develop products that reflect strong privacy standards and practices. (Because then people will use them, and we can sell more ads!)
* Make the collection of personal information transparent. (Then the ads are more specialized!)
* Give users meaningful choices to protect their privacy. (Because there are some things you don’t want to see ads about.)
* Be a responsible steward of the information we hold. (Otherwise, no one will use us, and then no one will see our pretty ads.)

All joking aside, I don’t have much of an issue with Google knowing my contacts, calendar, etc. My view is that if you choose to be connected, someone’s going to have access to all that data, and Google needs consumers as badly as we need them. Without people searching, using GMail, etc., Google doesn’t make any money. So the last thing they want is people not trusting them, since lack of trust leads to lack of searchers, leads to lack of ads, leads to sad Google.

Having said that, if I were someone who had a problem with Google, I don’t know that a cartoon video would necessarily console me.

And in case you were wondering, Data Privacy Day is:

Data Privacy Day is celebrated on January 28th in the United States, Canada, and 27 European countries in an effort to raise awareness and generate discussion about data privacy and protection.  This year, the House and Senate passed Resolutions recognizing January 28, 2009 as National Data Privacy Day.

Among its many goals, Data Privacy Day promotes privacy awareness and education among teens and young adults, focusing on the privacy issues raised by the use of social networking sites, cell phones, blackberries, online gaming, and other online activities and mobile devices.  Data Privacy Day events and activities also stimulate the development of technology tools to promote individual control over personally identifiable information; encourage compliance with privacy laws and regulations; and create dialogues among parties interested in advancing data privacy and protection.

Over the last two years, academics, teachers, corporations, government representatives, privacy professionals, students and individuals have all participated in a variety of privacy-related events on Data Privacy Day.  Celebratory activities and events have included: the presentation of privacy curriculum materials in high schools and Universities; academic conferences; technology demonstrations; a webpage and video competition; instructional videos; several business forum discussions of privacy protection in online commerce; a focus on federal and state agency materials for consumer protection of information privacy; and numerous state proclamations recognizing Privacy Day.

Do you trust Google? Did you know there was such a thing as Data Privacy day? Share below!

Via AndroidCentral