Google Privacy Policy in Hot Water in Europe

Google Privacy Policy in Hot Water in Europe

Better watch out Google! The UK, Germany and other European countries are hot on your trail, requesting you to rewrite your privacy policy in Europe or face legal action!

Google Privacy Policy in Hot Water in EuropeHaving already been censored in Europe because of its collection of Wi-Fi data (usernames, passwords and web page viewing, while collecting photos for its Street View system), Google is being targeted and emotions are flaring about the vast amount of personal data it collects on a daily basis from users.

The UK Google

The UK is questioning Google’s compliance with their Data Protection Act (DPA), which sets rules for processing personal information and requires personal data to be:

  • Fairly and lawfully processed;
  • Processed for limited purposes;
  • Adequate, relevant and not excessive;
  • Accurate;
  • Not kept for longer than is necessary;
  • Processed in line with an individual’s rights;
  • Secure; and
  • Not transferred to other countries without adequate protection.

According to the UK’s Information Commissioner’s Office, Google’s privacy policy, introduced in March 2012, raises “serious questions,” and Google has until September 20, 2013 to recast it before the UK seeks legal recourse.

German Google

About 930 miles away, in Hamburg, Germany, Johannes Caspar, head of the Data Protection Agency (DPA) in Hamburg, Germany, and an outspoken critic of Google, has had nothing but issues with the search engine.

In 2010, Google wanted its Street View mapping service of 20 German cities to go live by November of that year; however, because Germany has some tough privacy laws, probably due to Germans suffering under Nazi and East German rule historically, Google extended the deadline to October 15th of 2010 to allow people to opt-out of Street View. By opting out, the homes of German citizens would be removed before Google launched this service.

Caspar, however, said that his “concerns about implementing these complex opt-out proceedings were unfortunately not respected.”

This prompted the Berlin government to meet with Google representatives to agree on finding a way of respecting privacy.

Caspar is currently responding to Google’s privacy policy, because it “violates the company’s commitment to full transparency about the use and handling of the data.”

Like the UK, Germany is ready to take legal action against Google. In fact, Italy, France and Spain have also joined this battle, threatening Google with fines if they don’t comply.

Ultimately, it seems it’s about examining countries’ privacy policies as well as what Google actually does with the data it collects.

Sources:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/2013/jul/05/google-privacy-policy-legal-action 

http://www.parliament.uk/site-information/foi/data-protection/ 

http://www.searchclinic.org/2010/09/feed 

About the Author

Ginger Hill is Group Social Media Manager.

Featured

  • From Surveillance to Intelligence

    Years ago, it would have been significantly more expensive to run an analytic like that — requiring a custom-built solution with burdensome infrastructure demands — but modern edge devices have made it accessible to everyone. It also saves time, which is a critical factor if a missing child is involved. Video compression technology has played a critical role as well. Over the years, significant advancements have been made in video coding standards — including H.263, MPEG formats, and H.264—alongside compression optimization technologies developed by IP video manufacturers to improve efficiency without sacrificing quality. The open-source AV1 codec developed by the Alliance for Open Media—a consortium including Google, Netflix, Microsoft, Amazon and others — is already the preferred decoder for cloud-based applications, and is quickly becoming the standard for video compression of all types. Read Now

  • Cost: Reactive vs. Proactive Security

    Security breaches often happen despite the availability of tools to prevent them. To combat this problem, the industry is shifting from reactive correction to proactive protection. This article will examine why so many security leaders have realized they must “lead before the breach” – not after. Read Now

  • Achieving Clear Audio

    In today’s ever-changing world of security and risk management, effective communication via an intercom and door entry communication system is a critical communication tool to keep a facility’s staff, visitors and vendors safe. Read Now

  • Beyond Apps: Access Control for Today’s Residents

    The modern resident lives in an app-saturated world. From banking to grocery delivery, fitness tracking to ridesharing, nearly every service demands another download. But when it comes to accessing the place you live, most people do not want to clutter their phone with yet another app, especially if its only purpose is to open a door. Read Now

  • Survey: 48 Percent of Worshippers Feel Less Safe Attending In-Person Services

    Almost half (48%) of those who attend religious services say they feel less safe attending in-person due to rising acts of violence at places of worship. In fact, 39% report these safety concerns have led them to change how often they attend in-person services, according to new research from Verkada conducted online by The Harris Poll among 1,123 U.S. adults who attend a religious service or event at least once a month. Read Now

New Products

  • Camden CM-221 Series Switches

    Camden CM-221 Series Switches

    Camden Door Controls is pleased to announce that, in response to soaring customer demand, it has expanded its range of ValueWave™ no-touch switches to include a narrow (slimline) version with manual override. This override button is designed to provide additional assurance that the request to exit switch will open a door, even if the no-touch sensor fails to operate. This new slimline switch also features a heavy gauge stainless steel faceplate, a red/green illuminated light ring, and is IP65 rated, making it ideal for indoor or outdoor use as part of an automatic door or access control system. ValueWave™ no-touch switches are designed for easy installation and trouble-free service in high traffic applications. In addition to this narrow version, the CM-221 & CM-222 Series switches are available in a range of other models with single and double gang heavy-gauge stainless steel faceplates and include illuminated light rings.

  • Luma x20

    Luma x20

    Snap One has announced its popular Luma x20 family of surveillance products now offers even greater security and privacy for home and business owners across the globe by giving them full control over integrators’ system access to view live and recorded video. According to Snap One Product Manager Derek Webb, the new “customer handoff” feature provides enhanced user control after initial installation, allowing the owners to have total privacy while also making it easy to reinstate integrator access when maintenance or assistance is required. This new feature is now available to all Luma x20 users globally. “The Luma x20 family of surveillance solutions provides excellent image and audio capture, and with the new customer handoff feature, it now offers absolute privacy for camera feeds and recordings,” Webb said. “With notifications and integrator access controlled through the powerful OvrC remote system management platform, it’s easy for integrators to give their clients full control of their footage and then to get temporary access from the client for any troubleshooting needs.”

  • Unified VMS

    AxxonSoft introduces version 2.0 of the Axxon One VMS. The new release features integrations with various physical security systems, making Axxon One a unified VMS. Other enhancements include new AI video analytics and intelligent search functions, hardened cybersecurity, usability and performance improvements, and expanded cloud capabilities