Google has been threatened with a fine of nearly 150 000 euros (or over 2 million rand) by France.
The world’s largest search engine operator will be fined within three months if it does not customize it‘s privacy policy to be on parr with the French law on data protection.
The national data protection agency, CNIL, said that Google was not able to provide sufficient assurances about the use and storage of data that it obtains from it‘s users.
France hopes that this bold step in insuring data protection will be followed by many other leading countries of the European union.
President of the CNIL, Isabelle Falque-Pierrotin said: “œThe information received in respect to this (has) so far been too imprecise or vague“
She continued to say that Google must set a clear and concise limit on the length of time it can store data obtained by it‘s users. The CNIL also wants Google to seek prior approval from them before installing cookies on any of their devices.
This legal action is France‘s reaction to Google‘s new privacy policy which was introduced last year. This new policy enables Google to to track user activity across all Google platforms including gmail, it‘s search engine, Google+, YouTube and all other services it owns.
The revised privacy policy makes it easier for Google to retrieve and process data that could possibly be used by advertisers to target individual users with offers tailored to their specific interest.
These controversial changes have been widely criticised, yet there has been a limited amount of pressure or resistance for Google to change it‘s policy.
In October 2012, the European Union warned Google that its data protection procedures did not comply with an EU directive and gave the company four months to change them.
Needless to say, that deadline passed without any action or reaction from Google. This is what prompted France to set up a task force of individual member states that involved Britain, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands and Spain to pursue this issue.
Even though Google is facing the maximum fine of 150 000 euros under French Law, which is relatively small, they could face a penalty of up to 1 000 000 euros under Spanish laws (almost R 14 000 000)
Google has defended the changes it made last year on the ground that they simplified and standardized its approach across its various services.
However, many critics argue that the new policy, which offers no ability to opt out aside from refraining from signing into Google services, gives the internet giant unprecedented ability to monitor its users.
Source: Businesstech.co.za
