According to the BusinessInsider, Google Buzz could be invading your privacy in a big way. As is often the case, privacy issues with Buzz are opt-out, instead of opt-in as they should be. When you first set up the Buzz for yourself, it automatically sets you up with followers and people to follow. Those people are picked based on whom you email and talk to the most on Google. That’s fine, right? However, your list of followers (and those who follow you) are made public by default. That, my friends, is not cool.

Before you change any settings in Google Buzz, someone can check out your profile and see who you email and chat with most. When you first begin to set up your profile, you’ll be prompted to enter your photo and name. In that same tiny box, you’ll see minuscule wording that states that “Your profile includes your name, photo, people you follow, and people who follow you.”. The problem is that they don’t even tell you that the general public can see this information.

We all know that most of us don’t bother reading all of the fine print before saving and continuing to create profiles. We’re in a hurry, right? However, not taking the time to check things out in this way can also cause you a lot of headaches. Do you really want the world to know who you are talking to? Is it their business? Not in my book, it’s not. It is up to ME if I want everyone – and their brother – to know who I talk to the most… and who I follow.

We shouldn’t have to opt out of things such as this. My followers – and yours – should be private by default. It should be our choice whether or not they are displayed. What bothers me the most is that many people don’t realize this is happening, nor will they understand that they can hide their lists with just a few clicks of the mouse.

What are your thoughts on this? Do you feel strongly that Google made a huge boo-boo in regards to your privacy? Do you feel companies (especially such large ones who should KNOW better) should automatically make these things hidden by default, and allow you the control over your information?