FTA: "So how serious is the Google policy change? By the sound of the running commentary, this is the worst thing for privacy that's happened so far this year."
It's the same privacy policy. Unlike having 60 policies, there is one. It's easy to read.
And since when has anyone had a chance to opt-out of any privacy change, be it at your bank, Facebook, or your job?
Could you opt out of the original 60 policies? No.
Great point is at the end.
FTA: "What's the worst-case scenario here? Google amasses a detailed profile about each one of us who continues to use its mostly free products"
They already have that detailed profile, dumbasses!
FTA: "Potentially, that information later on gets breached, sold or subpoenaed by the federal government."
THEY ALREADY HAVE, @#%@#%! They aren't collecting new data. They already have the data. It could be asked for by the government at any time prior to the privacy policy change. Courts give 2 shits about privacy policies when they request data with a warrant or subpoena.
I better stop now, I'm going to blow a fucking gasket at the idiocy of the author of this piece of garbage. On to the great point:
FTA: "If you don't like Google, use Bing."
Thank you. 'Nuff said.