I begin by reviewing the contents of Google’s 'Enhanced Features' transmissions. In this article, I provide evidence calling into question the ability of users to disable Google Toolbar transmissions. And users who want to disable such transmissions can always turn them off – or so I thought until I recently retested. But in my testing, even Google’s bundled toolbar installations provides some modicum of notice before installing. Some critics find this a significant privacy intrusion ( 1, 2, 3). Run the Google Toolbar, and it’s strikingly easy to activate “Enhanced Features” - transmitting to Google the full URL of every page-view, including searches at competing search engines. But I write on my own - not at the suggestion or request of any client, without approval or payment from any client. I also serve as a consultant to various companies that compete with Google.
Disclosure: I serve as co-counsel in unrelated litigation against Google, Vulcan Golf et al.
