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European regulators close in on Google
US technology group Google is under pressure from six European countries' privacy watchdogs after refusing to change its policies, while EU regulators are still considering if action is needed.
Google: privacy enforcers prepare to swoop
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The search engine angered regulators by declining to respond to demands over privacy concerns stemming from its new privacy policies launched in March 2012.
Investigation
The Guardian newspaper reports that French privacy body CNIL, together with its counterparts in the UK, Netherlands, German, Spain and Italy, yesterday said they will take joint legal action involving an investigation and possible fines.
A decision is expected by the summer, with the report highlighting that the UK's information commissioner's office (ICO) can levy fines of up to £500,000 for breaches of the Data Protection Act, while CNIL could fine Google up to €300,000 (£255,000).
However, even when combined the fines would not represent a significant threat to Google. But the regulators may sue to block Google from operating in Europe, which would be highly damaging to its reputation.
Monopoly abuses
A Google spokesperson told the newspaper: ‘Our privacy policy respects European law and allows us to create simpler, more effective services. We have engaged fully with the data protection authorities involved throughout this process, and we'll continue to do so going forward.’
The news comes as the European Commission weighs up how to prevent monopoly abuses by Google, which reportedly has a 95 per cent slice of the European search market.
