Internet Privacy / Survey Deems Google a Threat / Group Finds Issues With How Firm Uses Your Personal Data

Google Inc.’s privacy practices are the worst among the Internet’s top destinations, according to a watchdog group. The group is seeking to intensify the recent focus on how the online search leader handles personal information about its users.

In a report released yesterday, London-based Privacy International assigned Google its lowest possible grade. The category is reserved for companies with “comprehensive consumer surveillance and entrenched hostility to privacy.”

What this means to you

Privacy International is particularly troubled by Google’s ability to match data gathered by its search engine with information collected from other services such as e-mail, instant messaging and maps.

Google says it stockpiles data to help its search engine better understand its users so it can deliver more relevant results and advertisements.

Hoping to placate its critics, Google has pledged to begin erasing the information about users’ search requests within 18 to 24 months.

Google’s response

In a statement from one of its lawyers, Google said it aggressively protects its users’ privacy.

“We are disappointed with Privacy International’s report, which is based on numerous inaccuracies and misunderstandings about our services,” said Nicole Wong, Google’s deputy general counsel.

“It’s a shame that Privacy International decided to publish its report before we had an opportunity to discuss our privacy practices with them.”

Privacy International contacted Google this month but didn’t receive a response, said Simon Davies, the group’s director.

Google last year successfully fought a U.S. Justice Department subpoena demanding to review millions of search requests.

Strikes against Google

— An independent European panel recently opened an inquiry into whether Google’s policies abide by Europe’s privacy rules.

— Three consumer groups in the United States are pressuring the nation’s regulators to make Google change some of its privacy policies as part of its proposed $3.1 billion acquisition of online ad service DoubleClick Inc., which also tracks Web surfers’ behavior.

Other company’s grades

While Google was the only company to receive the lowest grade, no companies earned Privacy International’s top grade either.

Five were rated as “generally privacy-aware”:

— BBC

— eBay Inc.

— Last.fm

— LiveJournal.com

— Wikipedia.com

Seven were rated “substantial and comprehensive privacy threats”:

— Time Warner Inc.’s AOL

— Apple Inc.

— Facebook.com

— Hi5.com

— Reunion.com

— Microsoft’s Windows Live Space

— Yahoo

(c) 2007 Richmond Times – Dispatch. Provided by ProQuest Information and Learning. All rights Reserved.