Dutch watchdog claims Google `spins invisible data web`, violates privacy law
Washington – The Dutch Data Protection Authority has reportedly found that search giant Google’s practice of combining user data from its varied services violates data protection law.
The privacy watchdog has claimed that the site’s collection of user data without prior consent violates Dutch data protection law.
According to Cnet, a 2012 overhaul of Google’s privacy policy gave the company the right to ‘combine personal information’ across multiple products, including payment information and location data to improve ‘user experience’.
However, the watchdog has found that Google does not adequately inform users of the practice in advance nor seek their consent.
DPA Chairman Jacob Kohnstamm said that Google ‘spins an invisible web’ of the users’ personal data, without their consent, which is forbidden by law.
The report said that Google had raised the ire of privacy advocates in January 2012 over the policy change, inviting lawsuits from privacy advocates following which the search giant was asked to amend its policies.
However, Google has maintained that its privacy policy isn’t illegal and that the company has consistently cooperated with investigators.
A company spokesperson said that Google’s privacy policy respects European law and allows them to create simpler, more effective services, adding that the company has engaged fully with the Dutch data protection authority throughout this process and will continue to do so going forward.
