EU Enquiry Prompts Google Move on Data Retention

Google has cut the length of time it keeps users' personal search data from '18-24 months' to a maximum of 18 months, following questioning by European Union data protection officials. The firm says the limit balances privacy with considerations of 'security, innovation and compliance'.

The data kept by Google includes the search term typed in, the address of the Internet server and sometimes more personal information contained within cookies. The company previously kept this type of data indefinitely but in March announced it would limit the retention time to two years.

However, last month the Article 29 working party, which advises the European Union on privacy policies, asked Google to justify its policy of keeping information on individuals' Internet searches for this length of time, and this prompted the move to reduce the time limit.

Peter Fleischer, who leads Google's global privacy counsel said in a letter addressed to the Article 29 working party that any legal requirement to keep data for less than 18 months would undermine the firm's services.

He added in a statement on Google's web site, that while shorter retention periods are good for privacy, longer retention periods are needed for security, innovation and compliance reasons, saying: 'We believe we've struck a reasonable balance between these various factors.'

The search giant announced first quarter revenue up 63% to $3.66 billion, and in April accounted for 64% of all US searches for the four weeks ending March 31st (www.mrweb.com/drno/news6702.htm ).

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