Reality is starting to set in around Google's Social network, Google+. All the animated gifs depicting G+ whipping up on Facebook and Twitter might not be as popular in the next few weeks. Several things have taken place in the last few days regarding Google's policies and it's beta membership. You see, in Google's Terms of Service , they require a person to use that person's real name. They've started deleting accounts of these offenders. OK, so if we aren't following the rules, then we get what we deserve right? If it were only that simple! People using their real names have had their accounts frozen or deleted! Even former Google Employees are running into this. But here in lies the greatest problem. For many, getting your "Account" frozen doesn't just lock you out of Google+, but in the cases of some, gets you locked out of all things Google! That's Gmail, Documents, Talk, Voice, etc. So far, most are just getting notice that they are suspended or deleted because they didn't honor Google's policies. And Google isn't bothering to explain specifically what these persons have done to violate ToS. Just that they did it! Not Cool!
This letter has shown up around the web in the last few days:
Dear Google, I would like to bring to your attention a few things before I disconnect permanently from all of your services. On July 15 2011 you turned off my entire Google account. You had absolutely no reason to do this, despite your automated message telling me your system “perceived a violation.” I did not violate any Terms of Service, either Google’s or account specific ToS, and your refusal to provide me with any proof otherwise makes me absolutely certain of this. And I would like to bring to your attention how much damage your carelessness has done.
My Google account was tied to nearly every product Google has developed, meaning that I lost everything in those accounts as well. I was also in the process of consolidating everything into my one Google account. (…)
And this one from this link:
About a week ago I attempted to log into my Gmail account and was prompted with a page saying my account was disabled. I assumed it must have been a mistake (or that I had been hacked) but that it should be something that could be fixed easily. Not so. I've tweeted Google, filled in their account recovery form (about 4 times now), and even tried calling members of the Gmail team at Google. I have had no success with any on them, nor any response as to why my account was mysteriously deleted. This Gmail account was HUGELY important to me for a number of reasons.
-I receive ALL of my emails there. If I lose/forget a password, the recovery email is sent there.
-I receive my banking statements there.
-I was recently sharing a number of Google Docs for business and personal use. My sisters wedding song list (which was of great importance to her, and a significant amount of work) is now gone...just gone. She can't even access it.
-All of my contacts were tied to my account. I've lost emails, phone numbers, etc.
-My Android phone can now no longer access Applications I have paid for in the Google Market, nor can it do anything Google related (kinda important...)
-My AdWords, AdSense, Blogger, and YouTube accounts are no longer.
-And so much more....(I even had the perfect GReader setup!)
-CD Keys emailed to me (VMWare, etc.)
All of it gone with no explanation. There's no one to contact; my entire Google existence is gone. It's quite frustrating. I used to love using all that Google had to offer, but now I simply can't trust them to delete everything I have. :(
Here's to starting at square 1 again.
Edit I've had some additional thoughts since my original post.
Google asks us to put a great amount of faith into them, and their services. Through various methods we trust Google with everything from our money (Google Checkout, Adwords/Adsense) to GPS (Navigation on Google Android). We trust them with our daily e-communication (Gmail, GTalk, GVoice, GDocs), our open thoughts (Blogger, Google Sites), our cherished moments (Picasa, Youtube), and for all of our patronage (netting them billions of dollars in profit) we get zero goodwill in return. Sure, %99 percent of people won't be * perceived * by Google as in violation their TOS, which is great. For the %1 however, their lives...depending on how much they trusted Google....their lives could be ruined. It's like a bad movie plot where the main actor is deleted from the system, only it is happening to you. You don't know why you can't access your old photos (which, when your hard drive crashed, assumed would be safe in Googles hands) or why you can't call old friends because you happened to buy a new droid (again you were relying on the handy 'sync contacts' feature). You only know you've been deleted.
I was going to write a 'worst case scenario' ... but there are so many; here is one that comes to mind. Imagine you planned a month long vacation in Google Doc's with your best friends. You had reservation information for hotels, flights, trains, and even bike rentals....but now you can't remember which hotel you decided to go with in the second week. You can't remember if you were biking in France, Belgium, Sweden, or Greece, let alone what day. And now you'll never know....I dunno. This is just one of many shitty circumstances that could arise from sudden Google deprivation. When Google asks for people to put their trust into them, couldn't we at least talk to a human? I've had issues with small and large companies alike, and I've always been able to resolve it. If I can talk to a human at Facebook, IBM, or even a little little startup like Hipmonk...Google should certainly be able to provide the same service. Really, it's an amateur issue to have.
Because of this post on Reddit, a Google employee saw this and was able to "undelete" his account.
As someone who has gladly adopted Google Services, I now take pause as to whether or not this is wise. I'm thinking Google is the new Microsoft. Their moto used to be "Don't be Evil". But just what is the definition of evil?
I don't totally disagree with Google's policy. But the fact is, that people sometimes have to use handles and pseudonyms. It's how several middle eastern people organized to bring down their governments! On the other hand, there are the evil doers who hack governments and corporations to steal data. But there seems to be some inconsistencies with Google in that there are only about 20 Lady Gaga Profiles on G+. Yes, the service is young, and there are going to be issues going forward. How quickly this one is addressed should make us all feel either better or worse. I'm not ready to write off G+, or start an online campaign to shun Google, but solid G+ features alone, won't win over Joe Facebook User, if Joe Facebook users are getting banned for using Joe instead of Joesph. If you have a rule, then enforce it, but enforce it consistantly.
Buds who Blog