The opt-out box, found at the Google Plus settings page for shared endorsements, does use the language of opting in: "Based upon my activity, Google may show my name and profile photo in shared endorsements that appear in ads".
Ratings and reviews on services like Google Plus Local are automatically public and can be used in ads, unless a user opts out of shared endorsements.
Shared endorsements are the latest example of the continual push by Google and other Web companies to collate in one place the reams of personal information people share online and use it to personalize people's online experiences.
Addressing potential privacy concerns in a notice to users posted on its site on Friday, Google said, "When it comes to shared endorsements in ads, you can control the use of your Profile name and photo".
When the new ad policy goes live Nov. 11, Google will be able to show what the company calls shared endorsements on Google sites and across the Web, on the more than 2 million sites in Google's display advertising network, which are viewed by an estimated 1 billion people.
When the new ad policy goes live on Nov. 11, Google will be able to show what the company calls shared endorsements on Google sites and across the Web, on the more than two million sites in Google's display advertising network, which are viewed by an estimated one billion people.
So far, Google has not issued an official comment about the protests over "shared endorsements".
The "shared endorsements" policy change starts on 11 November and covers the comments, "follows" and other actions people do on Google+.
Just last week, news broke that Google plans to roll out a new advertising feature called "Shared Endorsements".
"They are making me [into] a product they sell," said Los Angeles marketing strategist Stephanie Piche, who opted out of Google's "shared endorsements" program.
