Google is “updating privacy policies and terms of service” as of March 1st, 2012:
if you’re signed in, we may combine information you’ve provided from one service with information from other services.
http://googleblog.blogspot.com/2012/01/updating-our-privacy-policies-and-terms.html
I am not diluted enough to think they haven’t done so already behind closed doors for a long time — combining data of us if we’re logged in or not. And I don’t even mean that as an accusation. I really hope you are not diluted enough to think any company on this planet would honestly give you something for free.
What I am wondering about are the 700.000 Android phones activated every day.
The average Android user does not really have the choice to opt out of Google services.
So they get your offical agreement to officially combine all your data from all of your personal communication and officially use it any way they want.
As if the power to shut down your account whenver they feel like it wasn’t enough (not any different with Apple and iOS btw).
Related: The Guardian Project