According To Consumer Groups, Signing Up For Google Is A ‘Fast Track To Surveillance’
Google is facing action from a coalition of ten European consumer organizations over the company account registration process.
A Google account is required to use some of its products and services.
But the coalition says the registration process pushes users towards options that collect more data.
As a result, “tens of millions of Europeans came under accelerated surveillance when they signed up for a Google account,” says BEUC.
The consumer organization believes that registration is a critical moment when Google asks users to choose how their account will work.
But the simplest one-step “express personalization” process is said to leave consumers with account settings that “fuel Google’s surveillance activity.”
Google told the BBC that it welcomes the opportunity to speak with consumer advocates on the topic.
Ursula Pahl, Deputy CEO of BEUC, said: “In short, when you create a Google account, you are subject to surveillance by default and by default. Instead, privacy protection should be the standard and easiest choice for consumers.”
The EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) requires the platform to provide privacy to users by default and by default.
The company said that consumer trust depends on honesty and transparency, and it “bet on our future success in making controls even simpler and more accessible and giving people clearer choices.“And, just as importantly, do more with less data.”
