[NYTr] EU looks into Google data collection
 
Date: Sat, 26 May 2007 16:19:55 -0500 (CDT)


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[Readers who wish to deprive Google of their personal data yet avail of
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Scraper: http://www.scroogle.org/cgi-bin/scraper.htm for an entirely
free, effective and safe search experience. -SMcG]

EU Observer - May 25, 2007
http://euobserver.com/9/24137/?rk=1

EU looks into Google data collection

By Helena Spongenberg

EU data protection officials are questioning whether Google - the
company behind the world's most popular search engine - is violating EU
law on data protection by storing personal information of the search
engine user for up to two years.

In a letter to the internet company's European office in Paris last
week, the EU's data protection advisory agency - called the Article 29
Working Group - asked Google whether it had "fulfilled all the necessary
requirements" on data protection as well as asking for more details on
the company's plans on retaining data, according to UK daily the
Financial Times.

Google gathers and retains the information of the search term typed in
on its website, the address of the internet server and, if possible, the
personal information stored in "cookies" on an individual's computer.

The information is currently retained for an unknown amount of time but
the company announced in March that it would at the end of 2007 start to
make anonymous IP address and cookie information 18 to 24 months after
the log files are generated.

The data is collected for security purposes to help guard against
hacking and people trying to misuse Google's advertising system, the
company says.

But privacy groups are concerned that the collected data put together
can be used to identify individuals and create profiles of their
political opinions, religious beliefs and sexual preferences.

Google's privacy counsel in Paris Peter Fleischer told Bloomberg News
that the company will reply to the EU working group before their next
meeting in June.

"We are committed to engaging in a constructive dialogue with privacy
stakeholders, including the Article 29 Working Party, on how to improve
privacy practices for the benefit of Google users and for everyone on
the Internet," Mr Fleischer said. 

       
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