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UK and Germany join France in demanding Google rewrite its privacy policy

UK and Germany join France in demanding Google rewrite its privacy policy

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Google New York Chelsea Office (STOCK)
Google New York Chelsea Office (STOCK)

Last month France acted on a year-long investigation into Google's new privacy policy in the EU, demanding the company change its policy or face stiff fines. Now, the UK and Germany are piling on. The UK's Information Commissioner's Office says that Google's policy, last updated in March 2012, "does not provide sufficient information to enable UK users of Google’s services to understand how their data will be used across all of the company’s products." The ICO is giving Google until September 20th to update the policy or face "the possibility of formal enforcement action."

Germany, meanwhile, has already scheduled a hearing for August, where Google will need to defend its privacy policy, reports Computerworld. Google's privacy policy has been the subject of intense scrutiny in the EU, who argue that despite Google's attempts to make it simpler, it still is too vague and confusing.

Google provided a statement to several publications, including All Things D, which defends its policy: "Our privacy policy respects European law and allows us to create simpler, more effective services. We have engaged fully with the authorities involved throughout this process, and we’ll continue to do so going forward." Be that as it may, European regulators clearly intend to keep pushing. The Guardian notes that the UK could impose a fine as large as £500,000 should it find Google in contempt of court.