It's good to see that Europe and its member countries at least keep trying to draw a line with regards to privacy. Google might easily get away with just about anything in the US (being a major financial contributor and putting in massive lobbying efforts), but Europe doesn't seem to bend over quite as easily. I'm not sure the EU are fully aware of how tedious and never-ending this will be, but let's hope they keep poking.
Google’s privacy policy: Italians probing a little deeper
Google is to be subject to regular on-site spot checks by the Italian data protection regulator under moves to ensure the Chocolate Factory complies with the country's privacy laws. "For the first time in Europe, it will be the subject of regular checks to monitor progress status of the actions to bring its platform into line …
COMMENTS
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Monday 23rd February 2015 13:11 GMT solo
Google is not my concern
Its innovation in market practices (instead of technologies) are. Once it adopts a trend and if regulators start monitoring it, it becomes legalized (for the time being at least). So, now if any new firm, irrespective of size and visibility, says that it can track whatever it wants given there is a tiny link on its site, it can get away with it in courts.
I'd have, in my dreams, welcomed some umbrella laws that restrict snooping for commercial purposes.
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Monday 23rd February 2015 22:54 GMT David 164
Re: One rule for the rich and powerful...
That generally how data protection laws are enforce, it far more cooperative than confrontational than just about any other area of law at the minute, which why the act tough act from EU have been grinded down to what the whole are minor changes and no where near the original EU demand of a complete role back to the previous privacy policies.
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Monday 23rd February 2015 13:51 GMT A Non e-mouse
Microsoft et al
..and improvements to its data storage and deletion mechanisms.
I hope they're going to be paying a visit to Microsoft real soon now. www.theregister.co.uk/2015/02/22/microsoft_to_store_deleted_exchange_online_mails_forever/
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Monday 23rd February 2015 15:44 GMT Daggerchild
Are you talking to me?
"to carry out on-the-spot checks at Google's US headquarters to verify whether the measures being implemented are in compliance with Italian law."
Odd thing to do for a virtual construct... Intriguing set of potential explanations.
How *do* you get a horse's head through US customs anyway?