A privacy watchdog in Netherlands ordered Google to change the way it manages users' personal data or submit to an $18.7 million penalty for violation of data protection law, reports revealed on Monday.
This is the latest of a series of fines imposed on the internet search giant in Europe for the past few of months.
Since its implementation in 2012, Google's new privacy guidelines have been widely criticized for consolidating personal data from its various products and using those data to track users. Some European countries have since investigated the matter, and found Google accountable for breaking national laws.
France and Spain were among the first to imposed ultimatums to Google to further revise its privacy policy to avoid facing penalties. Google opted to pay the fines. Just recently, a Dutch privacy regulation agency, data protection authority (DPA), found Google's new policy in breach of country's laws.
"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 DPA, said in a press statement. "This has been ongoing since 2012 and we hope our patience will no longer be tested." Kohnstamm added.
In a report by qz.com, DPA demanded Google to be more transparent to its users and address the following ultimatum:
"Will ask for the unambiguous consent of users for the combining of personal data from the different Google services. This can be achieved via a separate consent screen. Unambiguous consent can't be obtained through information about this processing in the general (privacy) terms and conditions.
Further clarifies the information in its privacy policy in order to provide clear and consistent information to people on which personal data are used by the different services of Google.
Provides clear information about the fact the YouTube is part of Google. With regard to this last point, Google seems to have already taken measures in the Netherlands."
When asked for reaction on the matter in an interview with Bloomberg, Al Verney, spokesperson for Google said, "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,"
According to Verney, proposals for further changes have been presented to the group of European regulators. "We look forward to discussing with them soon." He added.
According to Reuters, the Dutch protection group has given Google until the end of February to improve its revamped privacy policy.
