Google plays mind games with personal search

What is the Google solution for dealing with the "Big Brother" scare unwittingly unleashed by its CEO in public comments last week?

Unleash its "Global Privacy Counsel" for a double dose of Google privacy speak: "Putting Users in Charge."

As is the typical Google case, the Google led privacy "conversation" is NOT the one that ought to concern Google users the most.

Google puts users in charge? THAT Google line trumps the Google pitch that users WANT Google ads.

In How Google will get inside YOUR head I analyze Eric Schmidt's "vision" for iGoogle personalization that I heard him present at last week's Personal Democracy Forum in New York City.

Schmidt, of course, diligently disclaimed iGoogle by saying users must ask for it. I warn, nevertheless, about how Google tracks users that do not opt in to iGoogle, which represents the overwhelming majority of Google searchers.

Are NON iGoogle users safe from Google’s prying eyes? Of course NOT. Google is proud that it knows at all times how ALL Google searchers are “voting with their clicks.”

BUT, should every single action of unsuspecting Google users really be feeding the Google data mining machine? NO!

The New York State Consumer Protection Board concurrs and has asked the Federal Trade Commission to:

"Require Google to protecty the security and integrity of our private data, including by allowing consumers the ability to access, edit and delete personal information contained withinthe database, and to opt-out from being listed in the database."

SEE: "NY to Google: Stop trapping consumer data, or no DoubleClick merger"

Google is mum on that front though.

Google says users can "control the level of personalization." Maybe iGooglers that want to can, but the typical Google searcher is being tracked without warning and has no opportunity to decline such Google spying.

Eric Schmidt's colorful public commentary always makes for entertaining blogosphere fodder, as was the case with his fancifull "Big Brother" reverries in England.

SEE: "Why Google CEO is 'harmless'"

At this Digital Markets Blog, I continually report on, dissect and analyze the substance of the Google world, which is now THE world: What Google really does and how Google actually operates.

MORE: Google declares war on $2 trillion health care industry Google sweet talks its way to political power Beware: Google is NOT your privacy friend Google zeal breeds more identity theft risks Google user data cloud: Do you trust it?