Following Google’s new privacy policy that was implemented amidst some tough controversy and Mozilla’s answer to that with their Collusion App, Google on Wednesday began letting their users follow their account activity on the web-giant’s multiple free online services.
Account Acti is a freshly-added feature that keeps people posted on patterns at Gmail, YouTube, online search and other Google venues visited while signed into their user accounts with the California-based company.
They will get monthly reports summarising their activity. “Sometimes it’s helpful to step back and take stock of what you’re doing online,” Google product manager Andreas Tuerk said in a blog post announcing the feature, adding, “Knowing more about your own account activity also can help you take steps to protect your Google Account.”
He gave an example of a report potentially revealing that someone’s account was signed into from countries they have not visited or from gadgets they don’t own.
Google will incorporate more of its services into Account Activity reports in the coming months, according to Tuerk.
Those who sign up with it get password-protected links to reports and tools to manage account privacy. The new feature was introduced the same month that Google rolled out a new privacy policy allowing the firm to track users across various services to develop targeted advertising, despite criticism from consumer advocacy groups.
Google contends that the move simplifies and unifies its policies across its various services such as Gmail, YouTube, Android mobile systems, Google+ and Internet search.
But critics including European privacy agencies and US consumer watchdogs argued that the new policy, which offers no ability to opt out aside from refraining from signing into Google services, gives the Internet giant unprecedented ability to monitor its users.
And some say it violates EU privacy protections.
Google said the changes are designed to improve user experience, and gives them a more integrated view of its users, an advantage enjoyed by Apple and Facebook.