US attorneys general express concerns over Google’s privacy policy

Google’s new privacy policy is set to go into effect a week from now, but the change is still being contested by regulatory bodies worldwide. In a letter sent yesterday to Google CEO Larry Page, 36 US attorneys general raised a number of issues with the policy, including their concern over the ability to opt out, the potential problems with sharing user data between services, and the dependence of Android smartphone owners on Google for service. They also brought up the effect that the policy could have on Google Apps for Government users, who will “need to spend taxpayer dollars determining how this change affects the security of their information.”

Although the letter noted several documents Google has sent to members of Congress and individual attorneys general, it says that these “have raised as many questions as they have answered.” Fundamentally, however, we can’t see any response really satisfying the letter’s biggest request: that the unified privacy policy be made opt-in for all users. Google has been asked to respond by February 29, the day before its new policy is currently scheduled to kick in.