We all know that Google keeps tabs on us and probably has more info about each of us than our own governments. Or do we?
Major privacy regulators across the EU have raised serious questions regarding Google’s privacy and data collection policies in recent weeks and months. UK regulators are just the latest in a long list of European officials that have issued an ultimatum to Google to either comply with national and EU privacy laws or face dire consequences.
Germany, Italy, France, Spain and now the UK have all reached the same conclusion: Google’s new, “simpler” privacy policy that was launched in March of last year, does too little to inform consumers on what personal data is gathered, how it’s used and what that means for each of them. Some countries have given Google a period of time to change their policy. The UK, the latest country to object, has given Google until September 20 to comply with the UK Data Protection Act or risk legal action.
Google’s spokesperson had the following response:
Our privacy policy respects European law and allows us to create simpler, more effective services. We have engaged fully with the authorities involved throughout this process, and we"ll continue to do so going forward.
In its coverage, The Guardian points out that it is somewhat baffling that a policy supposedly complying with EU law has been disputed by 5 major EU governments.
Source: The Guardian Via: Engadget | Image via Zeta.net