The irony being google is fiercly private but doesn't understand their users privacy concerns!

Here's a counterpoint from Matt Cutts whose video was referenced in the ValleyWag article:

The two assertions that used my comments as material were “Google’s wealth means Google ‘gets it’” and “Google must sacrifice user privacy to grow.”

Valleywag has either misinterpreted what I said, or I didn’t express myself clearly, because I don’t believe either of those claims.

[mattcutts.com...]

I'm not a great fan of some of Google's moves lately, but I haven't started sharpening my pitchfork either. I personally feel that a lot of the current backlash toward Google is irrational. It's mostly emotional, and based on waking up to what was always the case: Google has never been our cuddle-bunny lover. But neither are they an evil villain, planning to dominate the entire universe by any means they can find.

The mix of Google + users + webmasters has always been a competitive/cooperative game. It's not just one or the other. The minute anyone tries to polarize the game onto just one side of that essential mix (no matter which one) they miss seeing the real picture.

[webmasterworld.com...]

I'm not a great fan of some of Google's moves lately, but I haven't started sharpening my pitchfork either. I personally feel that a lot of the current backlash toward Google is irrational.

here's your whetstone:
[webmasterworld.com...]