Google simplifies privacy policies

Google has announced an overhaul of its privacy policies in a bid to make them easier to understand.

The company plans to delete 12 product-specific privacy policies, opting instead for one larger policy. The individual policies make little sense when components and information are shared across a number of services, the firm said.

Google will also edit its main privacy policy, cutting sections of information it deems redundant or unnecessary.

"Long, complicated and lawyerly, that's what most people think about privacy policies, and for good reason," said Google associate general counsel Mike Yang in a blog post.

"Even taking into account that they are legal documents, most privacy policies are still too hard to understand."

Google confirmed that it will not change any of its privacy practices or settings, only the language used in the policies. Yang said that the new privacy policy will take effect on 3 October.

The company hopes to add information into its help centre documentation to help users protect their information online. The Google Privacy Center will also receive a new tool to allow users to manage privacy settings on Google services.

Google is looking to polish up its image on user privacy in the wake of controversial moves such as its Buzz social networking service.

More recently, the company was the target of a Times Square advertisement which depicted chief executive Eric Schmidt as a shady ice cream salesman. User advocacy group Consumer Watchdog took credit for the ad.