Google to consolidate 60 separate privacy policies into single document

Google has announced it is to consolidate the vast majority of its privacy policies into a single document in an attempt to appease governments that have urged the firm to simplify its legal protocols.

Writing in a blog post Alma Whitten, director of privacy, product and engineering, said the firm was aware of the need to make the changes after the pressure it has faced from regulators.

"Despite trimming our policies in 2010, we still have more than 70 privacy documents covering all of our different products. This approach is somewhat complicated," she said.

"Regulators globally have been calling for shorter, simpler privacy policies-and having one policy covering many different products is now fairly standard across the web."

As such Whitten said the firm was to consolidate 60 of its different product policies into a single document, which she said would enhance web users' experience of using Google's products.

"The main change is for users with Google Accounts. Our new Privacy Policy makes clear that, if you're signed in, we may combine information you've provided from one service with information from other services," she said.

"In short, we'll treat you as a single user across all our products, which will mean a simpler, more intuitive Google experience."

The changes will take effect from 1 March and users will be notified of the changes via email and on the Google homepage.

However, privacy groups raised concerns over the changes, questioning what it would mean for the firm's users if all services are linked under a single privacy system.

Nick Pickles, director of privacy and civil liberties group Big Brother Watch, said while simplifying policies was a good move in general Google still needed to win consumers trust that it was doing this for their benefit.

"At a time when the European Commission is proposing to significantly enhance the protection of consumer privacy, Google need to be absolutely transparent about the data they capture and how it is used," he said.

"This goes beyond search and includes email scanning, location data from phones and Google +1 activity. Only when consumers have confidence in what data Google is collecting and using will simplified policies not be seen as an attempt to avoid scrutiny."

Google has run into difficulties with privacy issues before, most notable with its Buzz product which led to the firm paying out damages of $8.5m to privacy groups.