Google Profiles: Cyberstalking just got a whole lot easier

Filed under: Internet, Google, Social Software

Google Profiles: Cyberstalking just got a whole lot easier

by Brad Linder Dec 16th 2007

Google has an awful lot of services, and while you've been able to create a personal profile for some of those services, like Blogger, Orkut, or Google Groups, you had to reenter your information every time you signed up for a new services. Now Google is rolling out Google Profiles. Basically your Google Profile will show up in all supported Google services, saving you a lot of time and energy.

Right now your Google Profile will only show the information you enter. For example, you can customize your nickname, about field, or put a list of links. Google will not automatically populate those links with other Google properties, although we imagine they might in the future. For example, if you fill out a profile on Google Maps, we wouldn't be surprised to see Google automatically add your Blogger, Orkut, and other information. We certainly hope your Gmail and Google Talk info stays private though.

For now, only the links that you enter will show up in your profile. So if you want to promote your web site, or give attention to some of your favorite sites (like perhaps, Download Squad?), you can share those links with anyone who reads your profile.

If you want to fill out your Google Profile today, your best bet is to go to Google Maps and click the "My Profile" button at the top of the screen. You won't find this link on most other services yet. But eventually Google plans to make your profile visible on multiple services. If you use your full name as a nickname, people will also be able to discover your profile by doing a Google Search for your name.

[via Google Operating System]

Tags: google-profiles, profiles

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

grandin said 5:36PM on 12-16-2007

I call bullshit on the idea that "Cyberstalking just got a whole lot easier." Sure, Google Profiles will help concentrate online activities not originally meant to be public around "user nodes", and will definitely increase the findability of individuals who are active across the range of Google services, but I don't see how this new feature will game-changingly make individuals more vulnerable.

Anyone savvy enough to activate their G-profile and participate in the Googlesphere with this notionally more real-world-based identity avatar should already have an appreciation of the risks of digital full-disclosure. If you are among them, and you are already "putting yourself out there", chances are you have an established trail that any "cyberstalker" could sniff out. I highly doubt that this feature will make the process so much easier as to constitute a unique new "threat".

Titling posts like this, even if in jest, is tantamount to fearmongering. Download Squad should know better.

Ryan said 8:00PM on 12-16-2007

Google Profiles is also available in Goggle Reader, too.

Settings -> Friends - > "Your Google Profile"

Zaxxon said 11:46AM on 12-17-2007

Again, this doesn't work for "Google Apps" :-(

Jose said 6:40PM on 12-17-2007

Everyone who uses these services probably agreed somewhere for google to be allowed to do this.<

moby said 4:39PM on 12-20-2007

There is also one on the Gtalk page. Not sure if they are the same or merged yet. The gtalk one kept crashing. I setup the maps link one over two weeks ago.

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