Google+ open to all but confusion grows over privacy settings

Google has reopened its Google+ social networking service to all users after briefly stopping invitations on Thursday due to overwhelming demand.

However, Google's privacy policy for Google+ is highly confusing, suggesting the firm has not learned lessons from the criticism its Buzz service received in 2010.

The Google+ Privacy Policy states that information about activities such as comments on posts, and interaction with other users, will be recorded, but does not go into any specifics beyond this.

When downloading the Google+ app on Android smartphones, the process becomes more complicated. Users are warned that Google will collect location data and are required to accept its Mobile Terms of Service.

"Consent to the collection, use, sharing and onward transfer of your data including but not limited to voice and location data [as] outlined in the Mobile Privacy Policy," Google states when the Android app is opened.

Users who choose to seek out the Mobile Privacy Policy will learn that the firm may share information with third parties to perform certain functions such as billing or SMS delivery. Some information may also be shared with wireless operators in order to perform customer service functions, Google said.

Google also warned that users may become subject to third-party terms and said it bears no responsibility for this. However, the firm maintained that users will be able to choose what they want to share and how they want to share it.

Interestingly, when accessing the Google+ service using an iPhone, users are asked whether they would like their information shared with non-Google sites to provide a more personalised experience. It is possible to opt out of this, though.

Google+ is the search giant's third attempt to enter the social networking sphere after the Orkut and Google Buzz services failed to gain traction.

V3.co.uk has given its first impressions of Google+, noting that it has some nice features, but nothing to keep Facebook staff awake at night.