Google Buzz "breaks privacy laws"

MidnightCowboy · 17. Feb 2010, 12:01 PM

Concern is being expressed in a report here about the new Google service.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/8519314.stm

deya · 17. Feb 2010, 03:30 PM

It's better that they've provided an option to turn it off if you don't want Buzz in your Gmail, or back on if you do. It's at the bottom of the account page alongside 'Google Mail view: standard' if anyone wasn't aware of how to do it. I did read somewhere the other day that most users had turned Buzz off.

deya · 17. Feb 2010, 03:35 PM

Here it is.

MidnightCowboy · 17. Feb 2010, 03:44 PM

Thanks deya, this is useful. I also liked this comment which appeared in the comments attached to rhiannon's article on the main page.

"This article was worth "the moon" just for the valuable info on exactly how to turn the damn thing OFF! Thanks, Rhiannon
Anonymous in Charlotte, NC"

http://www.techsupportalert.com/cont...gle-buzz-z.htm

I guess you have to have some sympathy for both MS and Google. Every time they come up with something new, two days later a tweaking guide appears with instructions about how to disable it!

Bob · 17. Feb 2010, 07:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MidnightCowboy

"This article was worth "the moon" just for the valuable info on exactly how to turn the damn thing OFF! Thanks, Rhiannon
Anonymous in Charlotte, NC"

http://www.techsupportalert.com/cont...gle-buzz-z.htm

Thanks all of you for the heads up on how to disable Google Buzz in Gmail.

18. Feb 2010, 11:48 AM

I imagine that the people that have their details 'outed' might reach for an attorney, especially the rich ones. I doubt that will worry Google, and that is really worrying.

Hmm, best of luck to them

Rik

Jillian · 20. Feb 2010, 08:30 PM

Thanks so much. I have been wondering how to do this ever since Buzz showed up. So now I have turned Buzz off.

Anupam · 21. Feb 2010, 07:37 AM

Google has made certain changes to Buzz.

Now, you can turn off Buzz, and also delete your profile.

To do this, click on Edit, and on the edit page, at the bottom, there is a link named :

Delete profile and disable Google Buzz completely

The description is : "This will disable Google Buzz integration in Gmail and delete your Google profile and Buzz posts. It will also disconnect any connected sites and unfollow you from anyone you are following".

Anupam · 21. Feb 2010, 07:41 AM

If you still want keep using Buzz, but are concerned about privacy, then change these settings.

On the Edit your profile page, there is a checkbox with description :

"Display my full name so I can be found in search (also required to use Google Buzz and Latitude)".

Uncheck it, if you do not want yourself to be searched via Google.

Another checkbox is there, with description :

"Display the list of people I'm following and people following me"

Uncheck it too, if you do not want to let other people see... whom are you following, and who are following you.

Also uncheck the Profile URL checkbox.

This is because of this description : "To make it easier for people to find your profile, you can customize your URL with your Google email username. (Note this can make your Google email address publicly discoverable.) This unique name will also be used in other links to your content on Google. To help others discover your profile, in some Google services contacts who know your email address will see a link to your profile."

sa1 · 16. Mar 2010, 04:16 PM

Here is a better news source describing Google's changes to Buzz:
http://tr.im/S5Wl

Just joking.

17. Feb 2010, 12:01 PM	#1 (permalink)
MidnightCowboy Site Manager Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: South American Banana Republic, third bunch from the left Posts: 9,250	Google Buzz "breaks privacy laws" Concern is being expressed in a report here about the new Google service. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/8519314.stm __________________ Knows nothing and cares even less

17. Feb 2010, 03:44 PM	#4 (permalink)
MidnightCowboy Site Manager Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: South American Banana Republic, third bunch from the left Posts: 9,250	Thanks deya, this is useful. I also liked this comment which appeared in the comments attached to rhiannon's article on the main page. "This article was worth "the moon" just for the valuable info on exactly how to turn the damn thing OFF! Thanks, Rhiannon Anonymous in Charlotte, NC" http://www.techsupportalert.com/cont...gle-buzz-z.htm I guess you have to have some sympathy for both MS and Google. Every time they come up with something new, two days later a tweaking guide appears with instructions about how to disable it! __________________ Knows nothing and cares even less

21. Feb 2010, 07:37 AM	#8 (permalink)
Anupam Moderator Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: India Posts: 9,484	Google has made certain changes to Buzz. Now, you can turn off Buzz, and also delete your profile. To do this, click on Edit, and on the edit page, at the bottom, there is a link named : Delete profile and disable Google Buzz completely The description is : "This will disable Google Buzz integration in Gmail and delete your Google profile and Buzz posts. It will also disconnect any connected sites and unfollow you from anyone you are following". __________________ Anupam

21. Feb 2010, 07:41 AM	#9 (permalink)
Anupam Moderator Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: India Posts: 9,484	If you still want keep using Buzz, but are concerned about privacy, then change these settings. On the Edit your profile page, there is a checkbox with description : "Display my full name so I can be found in search (also required to use Google Buzz and Latitude)". Uncheck it, if you do not want yourself to be searched via Google. Another checkbox is there, with description : "Display the list of people I'm following and people following me" Uncheck it too, if you do not want to let other people see... whom are you following, and who are following you. Also uncheck the Profile URL checkbox. This is because of this description : "To make it easier for people to find your profile, you can customize your URL with your Google email username. (Note this can make your Google email address publicly discoverable.) This unique name will also be used in other links to your content on Google. To help others discover your profile, in some Google services contacts who know your email address will see a link to your profile." __________________ Anupam

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17. Feb 2010, 03:30 PM	#2 (permalink)
deya Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: UK Posts: 528	It's better that they've provided an option to turn it off if you don't want Buzz in your Gmail, or back on if you do. It's at the bottom of the account page alongside 'Google Mail view: standard' if anyone wasn't aware of how to do it. I did read somewhere the other day that most users had turned Buzz off.

17. Feb 2010, 03:35 PM	#3 (permalink)
deya Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: UK Posts: 528	Here it is.

18. Feb 2010, 11:48 AM	#6 (permalink)
rikmayell Guest Posts: n/a	I imagine that the people that have their details 'outed' might reach for an attorney, especially the rich ones. I doubt that will worry Google, and that is really worrying. Hmm, best of luck to them Rik

20. Feb 2010, 08:30 PM	#7 (permalink)
Jillian Full Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Georgia , USA Posts: 64	Thanks so much. I have been wondering how to do this ever since Buzz showed up. So now I have turned Buzz off.

16. Mar 2010, 04:16 PM	#10 (permalink)
sa1 Full Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Posts: 70	Here is a better news source describing Google's changes to Buzz: http://tr.im/S5Wl Just joking.