Google Misled Users Over Data Privacy, Says Australian Regulator

[MacRumors]

Australia's competition regulator has today accused Google of misleading users to get permission for use of their personal data for targeted advertising, reports Reuters.

In Australian Federal Court, the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) accused Google of not explicitly getting consent or properly informing consumers of a 2016 move to combine personal information in Google accounts with browsing activities on non-Google websites. This allowed Google to link the browsing behavior of millions of users with their names and identities, providing it with "extreme market power." As the change was "worth a lot of money to Google," the commission alleges that it was "achieved through misleading behavior."

Google argues that the change was optional and consumer consent was sought through prominent and easy-to-understand notifications. "If a user did not consent, their experience of our products and services remained unchanged," a Google spokesperson commented, adding that the company fully intends to defend its actions.

In June 2016, Google changed the wording of its privacy policy to remove a statement that it would not combine cookies from its advertisement display business, DoubleClick, with users' personal information. The new policy read, "Depending on your account settings, your activity on other sites and apps may be associated with your personal information in order to improve Google services."

The regulator believes that Google did not sufficiently inform Australian consumers about what it sought to do with their personal information, including internet activity on websites not related to Google itself. The case intends to clarify the common law on what providers in various jurisdictions could do, and is seeking a fine "in the millions".

Article Link: Google Misled Users Over Data Privacy, Says Australian Regulator

 

[Unggoy Murderer]

"Google misled users over data privacy." - Australia.

Rest of the world:

 

[Plutonius]

I guess even Australia needs money.

 

[ChromeCrescendo]

SHOCKED! Shocked I tell you!

 

[Jeremy3292]

My personal favorite was when if you signed into Gmail in Chrome, it would automatically sign you into Chrome as well. All your web browsing was being recorded automatically then as well and tied to your Gmail account. This could prove problematic when you use your work computer to check Gmail or use Chrome...

 

[Bluetoot-]

Quelle surprise.

 

[Return Zero]

Misleading users over data privacy is actually Google's core business model.

 

[centauratlas]

Misleading users over data privacy is actually Google's core business model.

"Data privacy" and "Google" is probably a good example of an oxymoron. (Ditto Twitter, Microsoft, Facebook et al).

 

[CarlJ]

My personal favorite was when if you signed into Gmail in Chrome, it would automatically sign you into Chrome as well. All your web browsing was being recorded automatically then as well and tied to your Gmail account. This could prove problematic when you use your work computer to check Gmail or use Chrome...

Probably what to switch to privacy mode, or use another browser, to check your email from your work computer, to avoid precisely this.

 

[gsurf123]

I have no expectation of privacy when I use any of Google's free products and no one else should. There are providers of the same products who charge money which is for privacy.

 

[nattK]

 

[now i see it]

Google and Sneaky are synonymous

 

[SaxPlayer]

The only shocking thing about this is that it's taken them this long to notice. Google won't care as "a fine in the millions" is chicken feed to them. They won't even notice. Remember when Facebook was fined US$5 billion and their share price went up?

 

[luvbug]

Well, at least one country has regulators smart enough to figure it out *and* act on it. Way to go, mates!

 

[Morgenland]

Of course it's nothing new.
But Google's spokesman is really embarrassing.
Google will get the ####storm it asks for.

 

[bartszyszka]

Is there a way to undo these permissions?

 

[jonnysods]

So what will they do about it? How will they punish Google for their indiscretions?

 

[Plutonius]

I have no expectation of privacy when I use any of Google's free products and no one else should. There are providers of the same products who charge money which is for privacy.

If people want to use a monetary free product, they should expect to pay by viewing ads and having privacy information sold.
[automerge]1595866561[/automerge]

So what will they do about it? How will they punish Google for their indiscretions?

Fine them with most of the money going to the Australian treasury.

 

[kuwxman]

Oh, this post should do well here with these die hard Google haters. Be back tomorrow when this post is likely 20+ pages of Google hate.

 

[burgman]

I have no expectation of privacy when I use any of Google's free products and no one else should. There are providers of the same products who charge money which is for privacy.

Expand that expectation to any free software, app, website, because you are the product. Charging money isn’t a guarantee of privacy. What we need is certification standard for privacy. Since the business model as morphed expect major pushback for any proposal.

 

[justperry]

The only shocking thing about this is that it's taken them this long to notice. Google won't care as "a fine in the millions" is chicken feed to them. They won't even notice. Remember when Facebook was fined US$5 billion and their share price went up?

I am in for staggered fining, like in...

1st time offender gets a warning.
2nd time- as above, maybe a small fine.
3rd, a major fine, like 10% of annual revenue
4th, 50% of annual revenue fine.
5th a huge fine, 100% of annual revenue and/or retract licence.

 

[SkyRom]

Google/Facebook own 70%+ of the ad revenue on the entire Internet. Amazon/Microsoft probably have 20-28% of the rest. The only way to get Google's attention would be to kick them off the NYSE and fine them $1 trillion, with a T. But since half the Senate from both parties lists them as a top 5 donor, I don't see that happening soon. It's shocking to see how fast the greatest communication invention of all time went from free to ruined monopolies in a single generation.

 

[69Mustang]

Is there a way to undo these permissions?

Yes there is. Don't consent to the permissions in the first place. According to info in the article: "Google argues that the change was optional and consumer consent was sought through prominent and easy-to-understand notifications. "If a user did not consent, their experience of our products and services remained unchanged..."

If true, the user would have had to opt-in, not opt-out of the account linking. Should be easy enough to prove one way or the other.

 

[Lucas284]

Woah... did not see that coming

 

[Osxguy]

I will never ever trust google.. ever.. and I dont understand why people do....puts back on tin hat... every product they have seems like crap and under developed.. they also drop a lot of projects.. and a lot of things are in beta...