Privacy Regulator’s Slam Google’s Privacy Protections
May 13th, 2010 by adminIn response to recent criticisms made by regulator’s, Google has claimed that their privacy protections are good enough.
The ten privacy commissioner’s demanded that Google must improve its privacy policy for new products to protect users’ privacy online. Google’s privacy lawyers, Peter Fleischer and Jane Horvath, wrote to the ten privacy commissioners to reassure them that Google’s privacy protection policies were adequate to protect online users against privacy breaches when using Google’s latest products.
Concern was initially raised by Canadian Privacy Commissioner Jenifer Stoddart, whom initiated contact with Google by way of a letter, also signed by the UK Information Commissioner and EU Committee of Commissioners, to name but a few.
The letter detailed the concern of Google’s newly launched products which were believed to be being launched without the extent of internet users privacy being taken into great enough consideration.
The privacy commissioner’s stated that the integrity of a users’ privacy should not be compromised in a bid to push through a new product or service ahead of competitors.
Google has rejected the privacy commissioners stance and instead has insisted that it not only protects user’s privacy, but also informs all users of the process of the use of their personal data and information using website terms and conditions.
Google has faced strong criticism in the past from privacy campaigners regarding its policies on data retention and the creation of street view mapping, where people’s homes and cars could be clearly seen in certain pictures. Google had not sought the permission of the owners of the property in their pictures. Furthermore, Google recently introduced advertising technology in emails.
Google’s response to the privacy commissioner’s letter did not contain any provision or promises for reform of their privacy policy.
