EU watchdog asks Google CEO Larry Page to pause introduction of new privacy policy

9to5 Staff | Feb 3 2012 - 8:51 am PT

European regulators want Google to stop introduction of a new privacy policy that consolidates user information from the search giant’s many services until it investigates possible privacy concerns. The new privacy policy is due to come into effect on March 1. According to Reuters, the Article 29 Working Party, an independent body that brings together data protection authorities from each of the European Union’s 27 countries, and the EU’s executive European Commission, wrote in a letter to Google CEO Larry Page:

Given the wide range of services you offer, and the popularity of these services, changes in your privacy policy may affect many citizens in most or all of the EU member states. We wish to check the possible consequences for the protection of the personal data of these citizens in a coordinated way. In light of the above, we call for a pause in the interests of ensuring that there can be no misunderstanding about Google’s commitments to information rights of their users and EU citizens, until we have completed our analysis.

Google’s woes with the European Union also include the planned acquisition of handset maker Motorola Mobility, pending an antitrust review by the European Commission and another probe over an alleged misuse of its market position.

The Mountain View, Calif.-headquartered search giant introduced changes last week that sought to compile as much as 60 different documents into the ultimate privacy policy applied to popular services, such as Gmail, YouTube+, the Google+ social network, and more. Google argued the move would simplify user experience, but regulators and rivals in the United States launched attacks on the company. First the United States government officials issued a statement and requested that the Federal Communications Commission investigate the changes, forcing Google to talk to Congress in to alleviate privacy concerns and further clarify how users will be able to access multiple accounts. Google’s policies website states: “Our goal is to provide you with as much transparency and choice as possible.” The search firm is adamant that its privacy principles remain unchanged, ensuring it will “never sell your personal information or share it without your permission (other than rare circumstances like valid legal requests).”

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