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Privacy controls on Google’s Buzz are backwards

Google turned its new "Buzz" social networking function on in my Gmail account today and I spent some time checking it out. Conclusion: it’s got the privacy[Related: Mobile Application Privacy …][Related: Consumer Privacy Bill of Ri…][Related: Privacy Policy][Related: Mobile Application Privacy …][Related: Consumer Privacy Bill of Ri…][Related: Privacy Policy] controls backwards.

While it’s true you can decide whether to share your post only with a limited number of people, the default mode is to make it public for the entire Internet.   If you are truly interested in protecting privacy, the default mode should be to share information only with the small group you have selected.

Deciding to go public should require an opt-in, affirmative decision from the user.

John M. Simpson

John M. Simpson is an American consumer rights advocate and former journalist. Since 2005, he has worked for Consumer Watchdog, a nonpartisan nonprofit public interest group, as the lead researcher on Inside Google, the group's effort to educate the public about Google's dominance over the internet and the need for greater online privacy.

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