FTC tells EPIC to mind its own business regarding Google’s privacy changes

Consumer watchdog Electronic Privacy Information Center, also known as EPIC, sued the FTC last week in hopes to draw attention to Google’s new privacy policy. For those unfamiliar, Google’s new privacy policy merges 60 separate privacy policies into one unified document, and it allows Google to gather and implement user data across its services. EPIC did not like the move on Google’s part and quickly sued the FTC for not taking action.

NY Times reported that the FTC told EPIC to mind its own business and has asked the courts to dismiss the case. The FTC told the New York Times in an email statement “We are asking the court to dismiss the case because parties such as EPIC are barred by law from interfering with the proper investigation and enforcement of F.T.C. orders.” The FTC did not comment on its view regarding Google’s privacy policy change.

Many other groups also expressed concern over the new privacy policy:

Many government officials issued a statement questioning the new privacy policy. They asked FTC to launch an investigation. During that time, Google quickly released a statement to hopefully win over a few government officials.

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In Europe, many groups also expressed concern over Google’s new privacy. The Article 29 Working Party and the EU’s executive European Commission wrote a letter to Google’s CEO Larry Page in the hopes of catching Google’s attention.

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.

The new privacy policy rolls out March 1.

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