Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

Google May Face Fine Under EU Privacy Laws

Posted by samzenpus on from the pay-up dept.

angry tapir writes "Google faces financial sanctions in France after failing to comply with an order to alter how it stores and shares user data to conform to the nation's privacy laws. The enforcement follows an analysis led by European data protection authorities of a new privacy policy that Google enacted in 2012. France's privacy watchdog, the Commission Nationale de L'Informatique et des Libertes, in June ordered Google to comply with French data protection laws within three months. But Google had not changed its policies to comply with French laws by a deadline last week."

6 of 88 comments (clear)

  1. Data Retention Directive by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Insightful

    And would this be the same EU that has the data retention directive? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Data_Retention_Directive

    As bad as Google can get, it's a paragon of privacy compared to our Glorious Leaders.

  2. Go, France! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Insightful

    As this should be. No company should be allowed to store data on any person -- anywhere in the world -- without that persons' consent or knowledge. Time to take the big companies down a few notches.

    1. Re:Go, France! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Insightful

      No country has any authority to pass laws about a company which doesn't operate there. When a user in country A goes to a server in country B, the laws of country B are what matter. Just like when you travel to a country on vacation, it's THAT countries laws which apply, not the laws of the country you're coming from.

      So, what about google.fr?

    2. Re:Go, France! by AGMW · · Score: 5, Insightful

      When a user in country A goes to a server in country B, the laws of country B are what matter. Just like when you travel to a country on vacation, it's THAT countries laws which apply, not the laws of the country you're coming from.

      America can't have it both ways. They made online gambling illegal and then go after the companies offering online gambling from elsewhere. Dudes, it's not the online gambling that's the problem, it's your citizens being bad by ignoring your retarded online gambling laws!

      ... and now the French are giving you some of your own medicine. Reap what you have sown!

      --
      Eclectic beats from Leeds, UK
      handmadehands.co.uk
  3. Tony Blair did that one by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Insightful

    He pushed it through when UK had the EU Presidency.

    It established the principle that you are innocent now, but maybe in future you're not, ergo we require companies to track you. Move forward nearly a decade and that data is handed to a foreign spy agency who data mines it, and trades it with other countries in exchange for more data.

    Where's Tony Blair now? Well New York mostly, with his 30 pieces of silver.

  4. Re:chump change by TheP4st · · Score: 4, Insightful

    This seems like a dig for France to extort money more than anything else.

    Are you actually serious and believe the 5th largest economy in the world spend more money in legal costs alone than they ever will recuperate from fines just so they can extort Google out of 150K? I normally refrain from insulting people but will make an exception in your case as you just displayed a level of intelligence that genuinely make me wonder how many chromosomes you are equipped with.

    --
    "I have downloaded hundreds and hundreds of records, why would I care if somebody downloads ours?" Robin Pecknold