London - Google is facing a major probe by privacy watchdogs over allegations it is abusing users’ data.
The firm could face fines of hundreds of thousands of pounds if it is found guilty of breaching data protection rules.
Britain’s Information Commissioner was one of six European data protection regulators who launched investigations into the search company on Tuesday.
They are worried that Google’s privacy policy is creating a data goldmine at the expense of unwitting users - posing a “high risk” to privacy.
The firm is accused of collecting excessive amounts of information on users’ internet activities, keeping it for too long and not giving them enough control over how it is used.
Google launched a new privacy policy for all its services in March 2012. It allowed the company to collect data on users who have no right to opt out. The move prompted a privacy investigation commissioned by 29 European agencies, including the Information Commissioner in the UK.
Nick Pickles, director of Big Brother Watch, said: “Google has repeatedly put profit ahead of user privacy and the way that the company ignored concerns from regulators around the world when it changed its privacy policy showed just how little regard it has for the law.
“Just because Google is a big business does not put it above the law. The company has ignored authorities and refused to make meaningful changes to how it collects and uses people’s data.
“Consumers are increasingly concerned about how their data is being used. It is essential regulators find a sanction that is not just a slap on the wrists and will make Google think twice before it ignores consumer rights.”
A Google spokesman said: “Our privacy policy respects European law.
“We have engaged fully with Data Protection Authorities throughout this process, and we’ll continue to do so.” - Daily Mail