European regulators have asked search giant Google to delay the March 1 overhaul of its “terms of service,” those documents every website has — and hardly anyone reads — that control your online privacy.

Google has several documents governing the terms of service for its various websites, such as Search, YouTube, Gmail, Maps and others. The company plans to consolidate those terms into one document governing all its services, saying it offers greater transparency and simplicity for consumers.

But Google will also begin sharing information between those services to paint a more accurate picture of you, the user. Previously, ads shown on Gmail, for example, were only based on Gmail’s data, but now they can factor in your activity on YouTube or other Google sites.

Matt Stempeck, research assistant at the Center for Civic Media at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s Media Lab, said Google needed to consolidate the terms over its 60-plus services as a matter of common sense. He noted that Facebook always linked information between photos and messages or other features.

“Yes, it’s scary how much Google knows about us, especially when you consider the Android mobile operating system, which has our location and phone and SMS (text messaging) logs,” he said. “But I’m more worried about what happens if that information can be subpoenaed or otherwise shared without my permission than I am worried about its existence.”

Morningstar analyst Rick Summer agreed.

“This is going to gradually go away,” he said. “When you look at the number of services they have, you need to have a comprehensive policy.”

Summer said he expects some regulation over such changes, which will serve to keep websites honest. But he doesn’t expect Google users to revolt.

“Who are you going to run to, Facebook?” he said. “Does Facebook seem like they’re not interested in your information?”

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