ICO Threatens Google over Data Protection

The UK's Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) has told Google to change privacy policies which it says provide insufficient information to users and are therefore in breach of the country's Data Protection Act.

Since making changes to its privacy policy last year, Google has reportedly been compiling profiles of users which merge data from searches, YouTube, Gmail and other sources. Other European bodies including the Spanish and French regulators have already made similar representations to the search giant and the ICO says it made its own approach following discussions with 27 other European authorities.

The ICO said in a statement that Google must amend the policy before 20 September or face the 'possibility of formal enforcement action'. This could include a fine capped at a maximum GBP 500,000, at which in itself Google is unlikely to bat an eyelid (its UK revenues for Q1 2013 were GBP 920m).

Google has maintained that its privacy policy combines respect for European law with the wish to create simple but effective services for users, and says it will continue to engage fully with the authorities involved in the process.

All articles 2006-23 written and edited by Mel Crowther and/or Nick Thomas, 2024- by Nick Thomas, unless otherwise stated.