Google to Share Your Data?

[Discovery]

If you have logged into Google Analytics recently you will get a message that very politely introduces the feature of having your data shared with your other Google accounts. Adwords, Adsense and Analytics all sharing data for example.

However, if you click on the link that says "more sharing options"

You will find the following Options:

Google Analytics Data Sharing Settings
Please select from the options below.

Please select at least one option for sharing your Google Analytics data.

OPTION 1

(Radio button here for option 1)With Google products only
Enable enhanced ad features and an improved experience with AdWords, AdSense and other Google products by sharing your website's Google Analytics data with other Google services. Only Google services (no third parties) will be able to access your data.

Example Use: Google Conversion Optimizer
If you are an AdWords customer, selecting this option will allow you to use Conversion Optimizer once it is available, with the following key benefits:
- Meet your ROI objectives by automatically managing your bids according to maximum CPA goals.
- Minimize your conversion costs while saving time.

OPTION 2
(Radio button here for option 2) Anonymously with Google products and the benchmarking service
Enable benchmarking within Google Analytics by sharing your website data in an anonymous form. Google will remove all identifiable information about your website, combine the data with hundreds of other anonymous sites in comparable industries and report aggregate trends in the benchmarking service. Google will also use this data in anonymous form to improve our products and services.

Example Use: Google Analytics Benchmarking
- Use benchmarking to compare your website's statistics against industry verticals.
- Gain broader context for your site and identify additional opportunities to improve your site metrics.

OPTION 3

(Radio button here for option 2)Do not share my Google Analytics data

ABOUT OPTION 2
So I have been an advocate of creating a type of data sharing environment so verticals can have benchmarks - this is fantastic in my view. However, I would like to see Google explain a bit more in detail about how, how much and who will see my performance data? I know over time by using the tools myself I will come to understand it, however I am asked to make a decision now.

In Option2 when they say

Enable benchmarking within Google Analytics by sharing your website data in an anonymous form.

Does this mean that the information is not anonymous in other ways? I see that in Option 1 they say it is not shared with any 3rd parties. Good to know, but again more details about the data sharing is required.

I do like the direction Google is headed in, combining all of their service offerings into a fully integrated solution. Look out Siebel, Here comes Google CRM.

What will you choose to do?

Discovery

[shorebreak]

Discovery,

Don't you worry what this might mean in Option 2:

"Google will also use this data in anonymous form to improve our products and services."

That's so broad as to allow them to do anything they want with the data. Improving their products and services could easily include the use of conversion data to educate Quality Score algorithms, which could in turn easily result in advertisers getting raped, so to speak, based on converting either too well or too poorly.

I don't know about you, but given G's other planned moves like Automatic Matching I'm not too trusting of G these days...