EU warns Google risks fines over privacy
EU regulators have demanded that Google GOOG substantially change its controversial privacy policy or risk hefty fines, in a move that could once again force the US search giant to re-evaluate its business model in Europe.
October 17, 2012 / 15:39 IST
EU regulators have demanded that Google GOOG substantially change its controversial privacy policy or risk hefty fines, in a move that could once again force the US search giant to re-evaluate its business model in Europe.
Also read: Yahoo! appoints Google's Henrique de Castro as COOEuropean privacy watchdogs said an investigation led by the French regulator (CNIL) showed that Google failed to provide users with adequate information about how their personal data were being used across the US group's different platforms.Isabelle Falque-Pierrotin, CNIL's chairwoman, said that unless Google implements the recommended changes within three to four months, the dispute will "move on to another phase, which is a sanctions phase." More News From Financial Times
EU pressures Google on privacy Google went for truce option with EU Google agrees EU antitrust deal outline EU gets tough with US tech groups EU gets tough with US tech giants "Combining personal data on such a large scale creates high risks to the privacy of users," the Article 29 working group, a body that represents Europe's privacy commissioners said in a three-page letter sent to Larry Page, Google's chief executive."We expect that Google takes the necessary steps to improve information and clarify the combination of data, and more generally ensure compliance with data protection laws and principles."Google introduced this year a series of sweeping changes to the way it collects and manages peoples' data, in an effort to make better use of the personal information of its users that it gathers across all its services from search and emails to video and its social networking platform.Viviane Reding, the EU's commissioner for justice, applauded the national watchdogs' decision to hold Google accountable for its privacy policy. "[The conclusion of the report] confirms that some companies simply don't take privacy issues as seriously as their share price," she told the Financial Times.Privacy and civil liberties campaigners welcomed the demands made by regulators.Some suggested that a similar approach should be used with other large online groups such as Facebook and Microsoft."Consumers have been kept in the dark about how much data Google collects and what happens to that data, and Google's new privacy policy only further disguised what really happens when you use their services," said Nick Pickles, director of privacy campaign group Big Brother Watch.The regulators' action "is an important step to putting consumers in control of their personal information and ensuring that companies like Google are not able to easily disregard people's privacy in pursuit of more information and greater profits."Privacy watchdogs said they recognised Google's efforts to advertise its new privacy policy to its users. However, they added that those changes should have been made after consultation with regulators.Peter Fleischer, Google's global privacy counsel, declined to comment on the report's conclusions. However, he said: "we are confident that our privacy notices respect European law."Google has been under mounting regulatory scrutiny in Europe and has been proactively addressing separate charges made by the EU's antitrust enforcer for allegedly abusing its dominance. Discover the latest Business News, Sensex, and Nifty updates. Obtain Personal Finance insights, tax queries, and expert opinions on Moneycontrol or download the Moneycontrol App to stay updated!
