Google Knows More About Me Than My Wife Does

I'm a big fan of Google. In fact, I might be too big of a fan for my own good.

I use a number of its services: Gmail, Google Toolbar, Google Docs and Spreadsheets (which I use to write most of my Associated Content articles, by the way), Google's "iGoogle" custom home page, Google Bookmarks, Google Checkout and Google Reader. Before I stopped paying for Internet service on my cell phone, I had a Gmail application on it and I would use Opera to access Google Mobile service.

And I'm probably not alone. Maybe you don't use all those Google services, but you might use some. I know a lot of people who use Gmail, iGoogle and Google Toolbar, for example.

A lot has been written about Google users' concerns about privacy, how their personal information is used and who has access to it. But have you ever actually sat down and tallied up all the things Google knows about you?

I think the guys and gals in Mountain View, California, know more about me than my wife does.

They know my name, my age, where I live, where I work, what Internet service I use, when I'm online, what credit cards I use, the number for at least one of those cards, where I bank, where I shop, what news I read, what I search for (they know that my cat has a food allergy and that I wish I could get Ubuntu to recognize my wireless card, for example), what my favorite Web sites are, where I need driving directions to and from, they know the who-what-when-where-why of my e-mails - the list could probably go on. That's quite enough.

I'm pretty sure my wife doesn't know all of that. She might have access to my credit card, because she can just take it out of my wallet if she wants, but she doesn't have the number stored in her brain. She doesn't know everything I shop for (if she does, her next birthday is ruined) or everything I search for (now, now - don't get a dirty mind; I just don't think she'd share my interest in Ruby programming or what mixers go best with gin).

And while she knows a lot of the other information I listed above, she doesn't aggregate it all in her head like a computer to sell me things or steer me toward certain Web sites. Google, of course, does.

Finally, perhaps most ominous of all for privacy concerns, my wife is one person - one person whom I love and trust and have chosen to spend my life with.

I've never met anyone at Google. I don't know who can see all of this information about me and what they might do with it.

Sure, Google says it has good privacy policies, and they're highly regarded in the community of Internet intelligentsia that probably knows more about this sort of thing than I do.

But good privacy policies and a good corporate reputation don't mean much to a disgruntled employee.

Or, for that matter, a wary Internet user like me.

I'll still keep using Google, because I like the products and services, I enjoy the convenience and, for now, I feel safe.

I just hope I'm making the right decision.