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Spain’s data protection watchdog ordered US Internet giant Google on Thursday to pay a €900,000 fine for “serious violations” of users’ privacy.
The Spanish Data Protection Agency accused the popular search provider of “illegal processing of personal data” obtained from users of various services such as Google email accounts.
“Google unlawfully collects and processes personal information” of users, the agency said in a statement.
“The agency considers that Google seriously violates the right to the protection of personal data.”
It ordered Google to pay €300,000 for each of three counts of breaching Spain’s data protection law and ordered it to bring its privacy policy in line with legal norms.
It said Google’s privacy policy did not clearly inform users of how it uses data collected, for example information from emails that is gathered to generate targeted advertising.
It also accused Google of keeping the data for longer than is legally justified and of making it difficult for users to query the use of their data.
Google has repeatedly stated that its privacy policy respects European law, despite investigations in several countries.
The Spanish authority launched proceedings against Google in June. In September, France too said it would take action against the company, accusing it of breaching privacy norms.
Authorities in Germany, Italy, The Netherlands and Britain have also opened parallel procedures against Google.
Like other technology giants, Google has come under scrutiny following revelations by US whistleblower Edward Snowden of online eavesdropping by US and other intelligence agencies.
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Seriously thinking of deleting my facebook account
You realise of course that Google has nothing whatsoever to do with Facebook, right?
Not until they eventually buy Facebook.
Edward Snowden interview http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5yB3n9fu-rM
Never saw that before, really good interview, sad to see that his greatest fear is that nothing will change.
No such thing as bad publicity…
€900,000 is a drop in the Google ocean…
And fee worldwide news coverage for Google.
Priceless….
€900,000 to google is like fining me 1 cent!
And Google has just purchased a major military robotics company- Douglas Rushkoff gives some thoughts on ‘google morality’ here-
http://edition.cnn.com/2013/12/19/opinion/rushkoff-google-robotics/index.html
Google are buying many robotics firms Boston Dynamics is just one of those and there is nothing to say that the technology has to be used for military purposes now that Google own them.
have your say