'Get your privacy policy down to one page': AVG CEO throws glove down

Discussion in 'other security issues & news' started by SweX, Mar 13, 2015.

  1. SweX

    SweX Registered Member

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  2. TheWindBringeth

    TheWindBringeth Registered Member

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    I think detailed privacy policies are very beneficial:
    • They publicly document important privacy related behaviors, procedures, etc. Which helps users to make more genuinely informed decisions.
    • The representations are also specific enough to create liabilities for the company, which supports legal actions against it if it fails to do what it says it does.
    I can't tell if Mr. Kovacs is trying to promote simplification of privacy policies to the point that they are no longer useful for such purposes, trying to promote one-page summaries which link to more detailed information, or something else.

    If someone encounters AVG's "new mobile privacy policy on one mobile page.", would you post a screen cap?
     
  3. Carver

    Carver Registered Member

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  4. 142395

    142395 Guest

    I think it would be the latter, just a sumary for full detailed info otherwise they may have a legal trouble. As long as it's true and include all important info user have to know, it's good move cuz as thay say most ppl don't read PP.
     
  5. TheWindBringeth

    TheWindBringeth Registered Member

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    If we could analyze all instances where privacy policies aren't read, I think we'd find that in the vast majority of cases it occurs for reasons unrelated to the size/complexity of the privacy policy documents. Especially if our analysis includes all websites visited, as his "would take 76 days to read" computation did. On the other hand, it might be possible to achieve an incremental improvement in readership if people expected them to be easier to read and understand. Assuming the idea were a simplified/summary version in addition to a detailed version, it might be beneficial.

    However, I think we'd have to evaluate things on a case by case basis. A simplified/summary version which effectively downplays privacy issues and makes readers think that they need not investigate things more deeply could do more harm than good.
     
  6. 142395

    142395 Guest

    You made a good point. That simplified PP only works on assumption of goodwill, but once nefarious ppl start to abuse this, it may harm more than good.
    It could be mitigated somewhat if there's standard format for PP, as well as automated assessment tool.
    I tested TL:DR addon in Firefox and EULA analyzer in the past, but felt they're not yet mature.

    I believe expecting common ppl to read current PP is wrong, and myself do not always. I only fully read when it is quite important, other times just skimming to see if there's sth unusual. Sth better approach is needed, so I evaluate AVG's attempt.
     
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