Nothing with real consequences at stake relies on a name, real or otherwise. We rely on social security numbers and credit card numbers in the US. Drivers licen

Nothing with real consequences at stake relies on a name, real or otherwise. We rely on social security numbers and credit card numbers in the US. Drivers license numbers. Telephone numbers. Account numbers. No organization that really cares who you are gives a flying eff about your name, they rely on the relevant number, because names are not unique. Names do not identify, they merely suggest. It's so bizarre. Even if Google's motivation is to uniquely identify you to advertisers, they already have that information (your unique Google account ID) and yet cannot guarantee that unique you is the same John Smith as other John Smiths in the advertising universe. They seem to be getting nothing from this, nothing but lost good will. EDIT: Changed money to consequences.