With Google already trying to contain the damage to its reputation
from the National Security Agency (NSA) leaks, it now risks another dent
to its image, as European privacy officials threaten to fine the
company for sucking up vast amounts of user information without
explaining the purpose.
On Thursday, French officials gave Google three months to explain how
long it stores the information it gathers through Gmail, YouTube and
other services, and to explain why it is collecting it. If Google fails
to comply, which looks possible, it could face fines in France of up to
about $400,000. “We realized that they are collecting a huge amount of
data on each of us, and most people know nothing about this,” Isabelle
Falque-Pierrotin, president of France’s National Commission on Computing
and Freedom, told TIME on Thursday. “It is time for action.”
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