Google, you’re starting to be evil

First Google changed the way it displays information on its search results pages to give significant weight to anything from Google+, in a clearly strong-armed move against Facebook, forcing anyone who cares about SEO to start using Plus. Whether you like it or not.

Then it updated its Privacy Policy. Have you read it? It contains this little gem (emphasis mine):

We may use the name you provide for your Google Profile across all of the services we offer that require a Google Account. In addition, we may replace past names associated with your Google Account so that you are represented consistently across all our services. If other users already have your email, or other information that identifies you, we may show them your publicly visible Google Profile information, such as your name and photo.

Want to know why this is concerning? If you’ve created a Google Profile associated with your Google Account (and everyone who uses Gmail or YouTube has a Google Account), you can no longer keep it private.

And if that Google Profile is associated with a Google+ Profile, it must use your full real name or they’ll shut down your Plus Profile (I know because it’s happened to me).

Now so far, you are not required to use Google+ and you’re not even required to have a Google Profile to keep your Google Account.

How long do you think that will be true?

If we’re forced to use Plus, then here’s the scenario that results: If you have a Gmail account that you want to use quasi-anonymously so you can correspond with people you don’t know without revealing your full name (like Craigslist buyers, etc.), well, too bad. You’ve been forced to use a real name on your Plus Profile, and Google just went ahead and overwrote your identity on your associated Gmail account.

Mark my words, it’s only a matter of time.

Maybe I’d better dust off that old Hotmail account …