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EU regulators take aim at Google privacy policy

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Published 19 February 2013

European data watchdogs said on Monday (18 February) they plan to take action against Google by this summer for its privacy policy, which allows the search engine to pool user data from across all its services ranging from YouTube to Gmail.

The move is the latest in a skirmish between the web giant and Europe's data protection regulators who view the privacy rules put in place in March by Google as "high risk," although have stopped short of declaring them illegal.

Regulators view the bundling of data on users as potentially constituting a high risk to individuals' privacy.

Google last year consolidated 60 privacy policies into one, combining data collected on individual users across its services, including YouTube, Gmail and social network Google+. Users cannot opt out.

In October, Europe's 27 data regulators gave Google four months to change its approach, listing 12 "practical recommendations" for it to bring its privacy policy into line.

>> Read: Google told to change its privacy policy

On Monday the French privacy regulator, which last year led an initial inquiry into the tech giant's new policy, said it would set up a further inquiry because Google had not yet addressed their concerns.

"Google did not provide any precise and effective answers," the French regulator CNIL said.

"In this context, the EU data protection authorities are committed to act and continue their investigations. Therefore, they propose to set up a working group, led by the CNIL, in order to coordinate their reaction, which should take place before summer."

Google said it did respond to CNIL on 8 January by listing steps already taken to address their concerns.

"We have engaged fully with CNIL throughout the process and will continue to do so," Al Verney, a spokesperson said.

He added that the privacy policy did respect European law.

The pooling of anonymous user data across Google services, is a big advantage when selling online ads.

Google and other large internet groups such as Facebook provide free services to consumers and earn money from selling ads that they say are more closely targeted than traditional TV or radio campaigns.

EurActiv.com with Reuters
Background: 

The European Union's national data protection regulators have asked Google to make changes to its new privacy policy to protect the rights of its users.

The request was made in a formal letter sent on 16 October 2012 by the EU's Data Protection Authorities united within the so-called Article 29 Working Party. The letter was signed by 24 of EU's 27 data regulators plus those of Croatia and Liechtenstein.

Leading the inquiry on behalf of Europe, France's data protection watchdog – the Commission Nationale de l'Informatique et des libertés (CNIL) – had already questioned the legality and fairness of Google's new privacy policy, introduced in March.

In March 2011, EU Justice Commissioner Viviane Reding spelled out new privacy rules for personal data held on the Internet, including a "right to be forgotten" that would allow users to permanently delete data held by companies.

Reding's proposals would overhaul the EU's 15 year-old Data Protection Directive. Her "four pillars" include urging more transparency from companies that process personal data, making privacy the default setting on websites and ensuring that all companies that operate in the European Union follow EU data protection rules.

Data protection and privacy in electronic communications are also governed by the E-privacy Directive, which dates back to 2002.

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