Legal Tech: Google's treasure-trove of information

By Shamla Naidoo Many of us use numerous "free" services offered by Google. But we don’t always consider the hidden cost to our privacy. The obvious example is the Google search engine, which tracks every search you make. Other examples include Google Voice, a phone service that tracks every call you receive, and voicemail service that archives your messages. Gmail manages your email, your contacts, and your schedule. Google Maps shows your real-time position on a map, helps you find nearby points of interest, and provides driving and walking directions. It offers real-time traffic information and identifies nearby real estate for sale. Google Latitude lets you share location information, and to see where friends are from your computer or smart phone. While these services enable social interaction on many levels and may increase productivity, there is a cost. You give up your information in return for the “free” service. Google services are offered with terms and conditions, which I recommend reviewing periodically. They include details about what information is collected, how long it is retained, etc. From their Q&A: How does Google protect my privacy? At Google, we are keenly aware of the trust our users place in us, and our responsibility to protect their privacy. We believe transparency and choice are the foundations of privacy. To help you make informed decisions about your own privacy, we work to let you know what information we collect when you use our products and services and how we use that information to improve your service. We also work to give you meaningful choices when possible about the information you provide to Google and to others. In my experience, the people at Google work hard to uphold their commitments and are successful most of the time. Even so, with their wealth of information it is little wonder that foreign nation-states, malicious hackers and unethical private investigators want to break into Google to gain access to the stored information and their techniques for gathering and managing this information. Each time you use these "free" services, take a moment to consider your contribution to the Google repository.  What consequences, if any could a Google failure create for you, your clients and your practice?  In such a highly connected world, the existence of this information offers the opportunity to recreate your every move, your thoughts, your communications, and your plans – a lawyer’s dream when building a case.