After a delayed announcement, Google told the world that their social media service, Google+, had been breached since 2015. A bug potentially allowed the data of nearly 500,000 Google+ users to be collected by third parties. Personal information at risk included users: birthdays, photos, names, occupations, and anything else you could imagine. Shortly after announcing that there was a hack, they told the world that they would close Google+ services entirely. Google needs to create a company-wide data protection policy, that includes informing users of a hack sooner rather than later.

While Google stated that the breach did not impact Gmail accounts, or other services they provide; an internal memo at Google said that the company withheld and delayed a public announcement to ‘stay out of the spotlight’. Public image should not be a reason to hide what’s happening to user’s identities. Tell Google to implement transparency measures that would notify users of a breach within 72-hours.

This isn’t the first time Google has been lax on security concerns. In September, Google failed to even show up at a Senate Intelligence Committee hearing on data privacy concerns. Opting instead to submit a short statement about how they are committed to privacy for their users. Back in 2012, Google had to pay out $22.5 million to users after misrepresenting privacy assurances for iPhone Safari browser users, affecting 4.4 million people.

In all, Google has already paid $39.5 million in damages involving data breaches in the United States.

Google users shouldn’t have to wait years to find out if they may be affected by a data breach; or sue for compensation after having their identities stolen. People’s digital lives and identities hang in the balance.

Google users deserve better accountability and transparency on how their data is used, and if their personal information is being protected by company privacy measures. Tell Google to stop providing lip-service on this issue, implement common sense data breach transparency and security measures.