Honestly the amount of people concerned about their "privacy" is shocking... kinda makes one wonder what most of these people are up too, what are they trying to hide? Obviously, some people are just concerned for good reason but I get the feeling most people are concerned because their hiding shit.
If it means that an literate mother of 3 from India can become literate when it counts then Google execs can take naked pictures of me and publish them in the New York times for all I care.
"Not having anything to hide" isn't a great argument because some people, for completely legitimate reasons, do have something to hide. It could be an abused person hiding from their abuser. It could be somebody with strong political views entering an unfriendly territory. There's reasons for privacy and it should be protected.
That said, there's also much value in allowing this data to be free. Google are open about their business model (and they always have been), and provide services that make use of it.
I do think it's funny when people accuse them of "harvesting data" or "surveilling" people. That's just using emotional language to paint a more sinister picture than is warranted, and it's rampant on HN unfortunately.
Try to watch out for extremist positions on both sides of the debate. Reality is more nuanced.
If it means that an literate mother of 3 from India can become literate when it counts then Google execs can take naked pictures of me and publish them in the New York times for all I care.