Google and privacy

[VvWolverinevV]

After Yahoo! Mail recently lost all of my contacts, I decided it was time to switch to the free and conversation-grouping GMail. However, after all the email-transferring and filter-setting-up, it occurred to me how easy it would be for Google to look at all of my email and web searches (and now the files on my computer since I recently installed Google Desktop). This is particularly of interest to me because I am considering applying for a job at Google.

Do you think they use their access to this information before deciding who to hire? Is there any reason to think they wouldn't? It's almost silly if they don't...

It's not that they would find anything that would indicate I wouldn't be a good employee. I would just feel more comfortable going into an interview if I knew my interviewer didn't have access to my fapping material.

Any thoughts?

[Jeff]

You should read through their privacy policy. I believe you'll find that it prohibits them from using this information that way, although there's nothing to prevent them from doing a google search for you (as many employers do).

[VvWolverinevV]

I have skimmed their privacy policy, but there's no way for a rejected job applicant to prove they used that information no matter what their policy says. And unfortunately there's no such thing as morals in business, at least in this country.

[David]

Originally Posted by VvWolverinevV

I have skimmed their privacy policy, but there's no way for a rejected job applicant to prove they used that information no matter what their policy says. And unfortunately there's no such thing as morals in business, at least in this country.

For a system to be in place like that, I think it'd take quite a few people. Between the software that "decides" whether things are "bad" (Or the human(s) that do it), and the access in the system to allow it. It's certainly possible, but I doubt it's really in place.

But to get at your original question, there are a lot of people capable of administering interviews at Google, and many who have since left the company. If there was such a tool, either it would be vastly known about, or it would be a less subjective system (A software Pass/Fail in the HR hiring system maybe).

What information would really be gained from knowing what someone has said in email, or what they've searched for? Even if you are into some really weird stuff, it doesn't mean that you aren't completely brilliant and would add value to the company. And if you're a serial killer (and that is somehow obvious via your search history), it more than likely is obvious when socializing and going through the interview process.

Just my take on it.