Search engine under fire for \'unfairly\' tracking users

Google faces investigations in several countries over its privacy policy EU regulator for data protection is planning take action against US Internet giant Google for failing to comply with EU privacy laws, French agency AFP has reported. In October last year, the data protection agencies warned Google that its new privacy policy did not comply with EU laws and gave it four months to comply or face legal action.
\"At the end of a four-month delay given to Google to conform and promise to implement recommendations, no response has been forthcoming by the company\" said France\'s National Commission for Computing and Civil Liberties (CNIL).
CNIL said that EU watchdogs planned to set up a working group to \"coordinate their coercive actions which should be implemented before the summer.\"
Data protection agencies will also meet next week to approve the action plan, said CNIL, which has confirmed that it will be leading the effort. CNIL said it’s “probable” that Google will face fines.
Google rolled out its new privacy policy in March 2012, allowing it to track users across various services to develop targeted advertising, despite sharp criticism from US and European consumer groups.
The Internet giant defended the move, arguing that it simplifies its policies across various services such as Gmail, YouTube and its Android mobile operating systems.
But critics argue that the policy, which offers no ability to opt out, gives the world\'s largest search engine an unprecedented ability to monitor its users.
Google has responded to today’s judgement, by reiterating that its privacy policy respects European law.
“Our privacy policy respects European law and allows us to create simpler, more effective services. We have engaged fully with the CNIL throughout this process and we’ll continue to do so going forward,” said Google in an e-mailed statement to Bloomberg.