Google bows to Dutch

The Netherlands' privacy watchdog has given Google a clean bill of health in that country and terminated its action against the company.

The Authority for Personal Data (DPA) has announced (in Dutch) that The Chocolate Factory has “terminated” the privacy violations that had the authority threatening fire and brimstone.

The long-running argument included hearings in 2013 over 2012 changes to its privacy policy; and a threat of multi-million-dollar fines in 2014.

Further infringements were called out during 2015, the DPA says.

Remedies Google has put in place include making it clear to users that YouTube is a Google service, and that the company has promised the DPA it only collects personal data from individuals who create a Google account (and therefore agree to its privacy policy). ®