Google Calls for International Privacy Standards

HairyNevus writes "The Washington Post has an article detailing Google's request for international privacy standards. Google is taking this matter all the way to the U.N., arguing that a hodge-podge of privacy law unnecessarily burdens Internet-based companies while also failing to protect consumers. Although Google is currently under investigation by the EU for its privacy practices, the company claims it has been a crusader for protecting consumer privacy. Google's privacy counsel Peter Fleischer called America's privacy laws 'too complex and too much of a patchwork,' and the European Union's laws 'too bureaucratic and inflexible.' The alternative? Something closer to the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation's framework which 'balances very carefully information privacy with business needs and commercial interests', according to Fleischer."

Comments

Google can afford to respect local law for now

[tjstork]

The problem with international standards for privacy is that some cultures have to give up the privacy rights, and right now, it is too early to attempt an international solution until we know locally what we want our rights to be.

We Americans might decry European standards and European "bureacracy", but they are Europe's to define. Similarly, whatever consensus we come to about privacy in the USA is our consensus. Until Europeans and Americans nail down what their rights and standards are, it makes little sense to try and adopt an international framework.

"Privacy"

[Scareduck]

will be defined as broadly (for Google, etc.) as possible. You won't recognize it after they're done, and you won't have any recourse because it's the "international standard" -- just like copyright restrictions.

Google's New Privacy Standard

[Anonymous Coward]

"If we can't index it, it's private... until we figure out how to index it."

I worry

[TubeSteak]

Whenever [Your Country] laws get harmonized with international laws, it's usually because the international laws are weaker.

Google's privacy counsel Peter Fleischer called America's privacy laws 'too complex and too much of a patchwork,' Some states have laws that are stricter than Google would like

the European Union's laws 'too bureaucratic and inflexible.' The entire EU has laws that are stricter than Google would like

The alternative? Something closer to the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation's framework which 'balances very carefully information privacy with business needs and commercial interests', according to Fleischer." Ahhh... finally someone whose privacy laws are not as strict as everyone else. Lets harmonize all other laws with these.

I won't go into the issues surrounding [Any Corporation] pushing for a change in not just national laws, but international laws. Suffice it to say that it isn't something I like.