After facing some serious lawsuits against the transparency in safeguarding the privacy policies of Gmail accounts, Google is finally turning out some clarifications on it. In a letter to the U.S. Senators, the company stated that Google will allow third-party apps to scan and share data available with Gmail accounts. However, Gmail users will be given the opportunity to review the permission and grant access to the apps for accessing their private data available in their accounts.
According to The Economic Times, Google lets third-party developers utilize information from the users Gmail account for the purpose of providing the most desired services. Google's letter to the senators noted: "Developers may share data with third parties so long as they are transparent with the users about how they are using the data." However, Google authorities also assured about the safety of privacy of the users in an official statement. Susan Molinari, Vice President of Public Policy and Government Affairs for the Americas at Google stated in this regard: "the privacy policy easily accessible to users to review before deciding whether to grant access."
The company claimed to be transparent at both ends. Google stated that it takes care of the privacy policies of the users as it remains responsible as well as concerned to the third-party developers. The technology giant itself stopped sharing Gmail account data for the purpose of its own ad segments. Wall Street Journal also quoted that according to Google's clarifications, all the non-Google apps go through a multi-step review process which tests various aspects of privacy and safety before using one's data from his Gmail account.
Suzanne Frey, director of Security, Trust, and Privacy at Google Cloud stated: "We make it possible for applications from other developers to integrate with Gmail -- like email clients, trip planners and customer relationship management (CRM) systems -- so that you have options around how you access and use your email," "It includes an automated and manual review of the developer, assessment of the app's privacy policy and homepage to ensure it is a legitimate app, and in-app testing to ensure the app works as it says it does." Frey concluded.
As per Google, third party users use the data collected from Gmail accounts as to understand users' choice of products. Third-party app developers, using Google enabled software and trace can keep an eye on what type of products a user buys, where he travels, what he looks for in Search etc. Google doesn't allow app providers to check users' internal information, such as transaction data and internal documents etc, as per an official release from the company.
