Google could be faced with a $1B fine with potential European reforms to Data Privacy Laws.

[Vitalius]

Post at /.

 

 

DW100 writes

 

"Despite Google being fined €900,000 by Spanish authorities and €150,000 in France for its controversial privacy policies in recent months, an EU commissioner has admitted this is mere 'pocket money' to the company. Instead, a new legal regime that would have seen Google fined $1bn for breaching data protection laws is needed to make U.S. companies fear and respect the law in Europe. 'Is it surprising to anyone,' asked Commissioner Viviane Reding, 'that two whole years after the case emerged, it is still unclear whether Google will amend its privacy policy or not? Europeans need to get serious. And that is why our reform introduces stiff sanctions that can reach as much as 2% of the global annual turnover of a company. In the Google case, that would have meant a fine of EUR 731 million (USD 1 billion). A sum much harder to brush off.'"

Well, that escalate quickly. (I'm sorry. I had to.)

But seriously. I'm glad someone is taking data privacy seriously (glances in the US' direction). I find what he said about 2 years later and they aren't sure if they will change their privacy laws or not very ... compelling. That is a statement. And man is it loaded. 

For those who will bring it up, I used the $1B in the title because it's round. I'm OCD like that (rarely, but about stupid things like numbers). 

I like this. Power to you EU. Maybe you can use that $1B to pay off your debt (zinnnnng). 

What do you guys think?

Interesting Comments:

 

EmperorArthur writes:

The EU is also responsible for the Data Retention Directive. Worse, most of their spy agencies are just as bad as the NSA. When you combine that with the lack of free speech in many EU countries it doesn't paint a pretty picture.

 

They're going to force companies to keep user data on EU soil. Which sounds nice, but that means they can force companies to keep your data for as long as they want and hand it all over to "law enforcement" when you've done something inconvenient. They will then have things like search results censored. (See Google France) I hate to say it, but people in the EU have even less privacy than those of us in the US. Even with/especially because of these privacy directives.

[More Incoming]

[Benjamin G]

What do you guys think?

Love it. And it's great to see the EU take action.

[cjeffcoatjr]

SUCK A DICK GOOGLE (As I type this on Chrome...)

[helping]

Fines are cool and whatnot, but I'd be more interested in when we start punishing people. 

 

That's a pretty large fine, so they might feel a sting, but often and especially in the US they're trivial and play into the "you can do what ever you want if you can pay for it"

Google aside, looking at the problem as a whole, in a lot of cases the money from breaking the law is more than the fine anyway, so might as well right? 

[Ryan Leech]

It's about time

[beebskadoo]

This is an example of a government forcing change on a big company

what Google is trying to do in the US is the opposite. 

I find that interesting.

[jscho]

$1 Billion? Pocket change for Google.

I don't really have an opinion on this thing, but still, they shouldn't just fine more just because it's Google they're fining. "Quick! Change the laws so we can fine them as much as we want before they fix it!"

[qwertywarrior]

GREAT

Google was like 2 million $ fine ?

ok here is a cheque !

[xXxYOLOxSWAGxXx_420BlazeIt]

"Could be"

 

 

$1 Billion? Pocket change for Google.

I don't really have an opinion on this thing, but still, they shouldn't just fine more just because it's Google they're fining. "Quick! Change the laws so we can fine them as much as we want before they fix it!"

It isnt "pocket change" for anyone.

 

$1B is 10% of their Q3 profits from 2013. And you really think the law is being changed just so they can fine people? Google will adapt and change to meet the new laws before they are enforced. Just like every time there is a new law.

 

 

 

 

 

Googles market cap is just

[jscho]

It isnt "pocket change" for anyone.

 

Of course I knew that. One billion is something that noone would throw around.

I understand the EU's attitude to this as they're trying to get the companies to understand that you do not fuck with their people's privacy. But one billion is a VERY substantial amount for a fine. Is there something they can do to get them to understand without taking such a huge sum of cash? That's my point. Surely there are other ways of punishing these companies.

[Vitalius]

Of course I knew that. One billion is something that noone would throw around.

I understand the EU's attitude to this as they're trying to get the companies to understand that you do not fuck with their people's privacy. But one billion is a VERY substantial amount for a fine. Is there something they can do to get them to understand without taking such a huge sum of cash? That's my point. Surely there are other ways of punishing these companies.

Interestingly...

 

 

abhi_beckhert writes:

Or even better, just tell google they have to stop selling services in Europe for a period of time, say 90 days. So nobody in Europe would be allowed to buy ads off Google while the ban was in place.

 

This would give competitors, who presumably adhere to EU law, a chance to step in and earn some revenue of their own.

[jscho]

Interestingly...

 

 

Wooo!

[ionbasa]

So, how are they forced to pay the fine? Google is a US company, they could just say no. Or even better, Google could cut off service to the EU entirely, that would be hilarious.

[jscho]

So, how are they forced to pay the fine? Google is a US company, they could just say no. Or even better, Google could cut off service to the EU entirely, that would be hilarious.

 

I'd say that if your company operates in another country, then you are obligated to follow that country's federal laws. (I'm fairly sure that's how it works)

[Guest]

Why you do this to Google.

Typed on Chrome on a Nexus 5.

[Fetzie]

So, how are they forced to pay the fine? Google is a US company, they could just say no. Or even better, Google could cut off service to the EU entirely, that would be hilarious.

 

Yeah, Google is totally going to stop serving ads to 10% of the planet's population, which are also some of the wealthiest people on the planet (even minimum wage or unemployment benefits puts you in the top 5% income worldwide) because they would otherwise lose 2% turn-over.

 

Also, the Data Retention Directive could be overturned if the Commission follows the opinion of the Advocate General of the ECJ (which it does all the time).

[That Norwegian Guy]

This is the best news I've heard all month. Hell, not that long ago I switched from Gmail to mail.ru as I'd rather give RUSSIANS access to my data than the US.

 

Hopefully this is the first in a long series of hard blows to Google. I'm sick of their shit.

[Tataffe]

I like it. Let's just hope that this fine is more than the profit Google makes violating the law ...

 

Why you do this to Google.

Typed on Chrome on a Nexus 5.

 

Because they deserve it so bad, fanboy.

[mgsstar]

Well I don't think Google would care if they were fined as they were buying quite a lot of companies recently.

[Hulk]

Coming from the region which wanted to pass SOPA a couple of months back... This is merely for public approval.

[Nineshadow]

And that's a reason why I still like Europe...

[wkronbaek]

Google doesnt care, $1B is nothing.

[ACatWithThumbs]

Google doesnt care, $1B is nothing.

That is actually a lot even for Google.

[wkronbaek]

That is actually a lot even for Google.

It's a sizeable amount, but they won't have any problem paying it

[sof006]

It's a sizeable amount, but they won't have any problem paying it

They will if the EU keeps forcing them to pay it over and over again if Google doesn't do anything to change its policies.