Google Privacy Policy Could Violate EU Law

judgecorp writes "Google's new unified privacy policy could violate EU law, according to objections. The French data regulator warns that the policy will infringe users' privacy by building a single online profile. Commission Nationale de L’informatique et Des Libertes (CNIL) has expressed “deep concerns” about the policy and its adherence to the European Data Protection Directive."

Comments

Use another service?

[zippo01]

They act like Google doesn't already know everything about everyone. I see nothing wrong with Google doing whatever they want with the information I voluntarily provide them in exchange for their services. If you don't want them to have it, use another service.

Re:Use another service?

[Robert Zenz]

So? Don't buy an Android device then, if you did not know that beforehand, send it back. If you just figure that out after months...well, go figure.

You know, you're not exactly forced to use an Android device (no I won't accept corporate stuff as excuse), you can buy a simple not-so-smart-phone...or a Windows phone *snickers*.

Re:Use another service?

[WrongSizeGlass]

ignorance never makes good justification.

You're right, it doesn't. But, ignorance is a fact of life in many (if not most) areas of "technology". Don't know how to fix your own car so you got an expensive repair bill? Are you sure all those parts really needed to be replaced? How about fixing your own electric or plumbing or computer? Just because these are "physical" objects doesn't make it that different. If you knew how they worked you could (and hopefully would) make a more educated decision about them.

Yes, Google is trying to become 'Big Brother' without all those pesky restraints put upon governments by their citizens. The more information Google, Facebook, et al can harvest the more useful they become to other large entities. We're all ignorant of the true intent of these types of companies, but I'm pretty sure they intend to move "profit!" up to position #1 if at all possible.

Re:Use another service?

[ciderbrew]

No this isn't the same. Having a person fix a broken object and getting ripped off may be ignorance but it doesn't stop a person getting a job 20 years down the line.
If a teen wrote on facebook "first gay kiss, love that person / just tried drugs / want to vote for party X", that bit of information is there to haunt them. Being gay, trying drugs or voting x is not the issue, not being able to "un-share" it, should the need arise is.
The enlightened in this case, should work to protect the ignorant. Being a decent engineer, being a sysadmin (xkcd style) means you are the powerful. And with great power ... Help the ignorant by default.

so all of a sudden Google is now infringing

[Escogido]

and Facebook is not? What is it that Facebook is doing that Google has not done? Reading the FA didn't reveal anything other than an impression that "will continue their investigations with Google’s representatives" essentially means "will see if this gives us a good chance to treat Google as an ATM".

Re:so all of a sudden Google is now infringing

[TheRaven64]

Facebook only provides a single service: to collect all of your information and provide it to advertisers. Google provides a number of unrelated services and shares data about you between them. This sounds like it would easily contravene the EU data protection directive which says, basically, that you can't transfer personal information to third parties without explicit consent and can't use personal information for anything other than providing the service that the user asked for.

Re:so all of a sudden Google is now infringing

[CProgrammer98]

where's the third party? Google operate all of the services that the new consolidated privacy policy applies to.

What about NSA?

[curious.corn]

Listen guys, privacy is toast anyway... if anything Google is making us acknowledge this and move along.

Re:What about MSN passport?

[icebraining]

I don't like lying shills, therefore I'm a Google fanboy? Good argument.