????上周四，谷歌公司（Google）開始執行其頗具爭議的全新隱私條款。依據該政策，谷歌將在前所未有的范圍內，匯總用戶在谷歌搜索、Gmail、Google+、Picasa、谷歌地圖等各項服務上進行的在線活動所搜集的數據，從而根據用戶的興趣，更準確地對廣告進行定位。

????當然，對此肯定存在大量反對的聲音。但是，谷歌名為Good to Know的廣告宣傳活動至少在某種程度上減輕了反對意見產生的影響。廣告采用了富有童趣的素描畫來闡釋、推廣新政策。“在線隱私從未如此楚楚可憐，”《廣告時代》（Advertising Age）報道說。

????也許，更確切地說，“侵犯隱私”從未像現在這樣楚楚可憐。說到底，谷歌此舉極具爭議，而且很可能惹麻煩上身，谷歌的廣告只是在竭力為它戴上一副盡可能討人喜歡的面具。但是，廣告盡可能地避開了律師、各種利益集團和政客等群體，而是直接面向用戶，從這點上來說，它可謂別出心裁。

????谷歌Good to Know廣告的推出時間在禁止網絡盜版法（SOPA）抗議運動達到高潮之前。當時，網絡用戶與商界共同發動的在線抗議活動甚至引發了斷網和其他一些抗議行為，并進而導致反盜版立法案最終被束之高閣，抗議活動由此達到了頂峰。谷歌當時也參與了抗議活動，但只是在網站上發表了簡短的聲明，以示反對。但是，該公司一定為抗議活動的成功而感到欣慰不已，因為它提供的證據顯示，很多時候，直接面向公眾的公共活動往往收效極為顯著。

????當然，這是一把雙刃劍。許多人認為，谷歌的新政策與禁止網絡盜版法沒什么兩樣，都可謂嚴重傷害互聯網用戶利益的咒語。有些反對禁止網絡盜版法的組織及個人同樣反對谷歌的新政策。但是，如果此類“論戰”越來越公開化，它仍要遠勝于只在國會、法庭、或者律師事務所里“開戰”，因為在第二種情況下，人們關注得更多的是一己私利，而不是公眾的利益。

????譯者：大海

????Google (GOOG) today implemented its controversial new privacy policy, which ties together more than ever before data gathered from users' online activities across all of its properties -- search, Gmail, Google Plus, Picasa, Google Maps, etc. -- to better target ads based on users' interests.

????There is plenty of blowback, of course. But that might have been mitigated, at least somewhat, by Google's ad campaign, "Good to Know," which comprises cute line drawings to explain and promote the new policy. "Online privacy has never looked more cuddly," decided Advertising Age.

????Or maybe privacy intrusion has never looked more cuddly is a better way to put it. Google of course is putting the best possible face on what is, after all, a highly controversial, possibly troubling move. But the campaign might be unique in terms of taking such actions directly to the people, circumventing lawyers, interest groups and politicians to the extent possible.

????"Good to Know" was launched in Europe before the anti-SOPA campaign reached full volume, culminating in an online movement of people and companies that resulted in Web blackouts and other protests the led to the anti-piracy legislation's being shelved. Google took part, though only with a message on its site stating its opposition to the bill. But the company must have been pleased by the effort's success, since it offered further evidence that in many cases, direct-to-the-public publicity campaigns can be highly effective.

????Of course, that can work both ways, and for a lot of people, Google's new policy is a lot like SOPA in being anathema to the interests of Internet users. Some of the same groups and many of the same individuals that opposed SOPA also oppose this. But if such battles are increasingly fought in public, that might be a lot better than having them fought in Congress, the courts, or lawyer's offices, where interests other than the public interest are bound to hold more sway.

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