Yesterday Google blogger Matt Cutts posted an interesting take on his personal opinion about privacy concerns and Google’s services. While he stresses on more than one occasion that he is expressing personal opinion, one still needs to take into account that his paycheck comes directly from Google. I’m not suggesting that he doesn’t honestly believe what he’s written. I’m just saying it should be taken in context.

Several folks have already weighed in with their reaction but I wanted to make one additional point.

Cutts compares Google to other search engines and ISPs and points out several distinct characteristics that make Google a better friend to privacy advocates:

• Google was alone in refusing to hand over user information to the DOJ last year
• Google plans to make user information anonymous after 18 - 24 months
• ISPs collect and sell much more information on their users than Google ever could (and Google doesn’t sell their data)

Those are all valid points. In fact, the first point alone is one of the main reasons that I’ve always trusted Google with my information more so than I would just about any other organization out there. While I’m a little cautious about Google having ALL of my information, that concern is not specific to the search company.

That being said, every consumer out there should take privacy concerns very seriously, especially with a company of Google’s size and reach. It doesn’t matter how well they protect consumer information. It doesn’t matter whether or not they hand it over at the drop of a hate. And it doesn’t matter how secured and locked down that information is.

The fact remains that when any one company collects personal information at the scope, depth, and breadth of Google, we should all keep close tabs on what, how, and where that information is being used. Security breaches happen. Companies change their minds. Things go on that we don’t - and never will - know about.

Google is one of a growing list of companies that possess a wealth of knowledge about millions of people all over the globe. And yes, to date they’ve been better than most protecting that knowledge. But that doesn’t mean we should get lax on monitoring them.