Dutch Watchdog Issues Privacy Ultimatum To Google, May Be Fined Up to $18.7 Million
A Dutch privacy watchdog on Monday ordered an ultimatum to Google, asking to change the way it handles users' personal data or face fines up to $18.7 million. It will be the third round of European fines that Google has to face in the last few months.
The deadline for improving the revamped privacy policy is end-February.
In an emailed statement to Bloomberg, the Netherlands authority said the improvements include asking users for their "unambiguous consent" and that they are given "clear and consistent information" about the way personal information is being used.
"Google catches us in an invisible web of our personal data without telling us and without asking us for our consent," Jacob Kohnstamm, chairman of the Dutch privacy watchdog, said in the statement. "This has been ongoing since 2012 and we hope our patience will no longer be tested."
The penalty is a consequence of European investigations that started after Google made changes to harmonize privacy policies for than 60 products in 2012.
"We're disappointed with the Dutch DPA's order especially as we've already made a number of changes to our privacy policy in response to their concerns," Al Verney, a Brussels-based spokesman for Google, said by phone, according to Bloomberg. "However we've recently shared some proposals for further changes with the group of European regulators and we look forward to discussing with them soon."
