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France to fine Google €300,000 over privacy rules

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France said on Friday it will fine Google Inc. up to 300,000 euros ($402,180) for breaking rules on data privacy.
<br />
The French agency that regulates information technology says 
Google Inc. hadn't satisfactorily responded to its June decision giving 
the company three months to be more upfront about the data it collects 
from users.
<br />
Regulators also want Google to let users opt out of having their 
data centralised - for example, when data from online searches, Gmail 
and YouTube are crunched into a single location.
<br />
In a statement Friday, France's National Commission on Computing 
and Freedom, known as CNIL, said Google hasn't made requested changes, 
including specifying to users what it uses personal data for, and how 
long it's held. CNIL said it will now launch formal sanction 
proceedings, a process that could take months.
<br />
Google spokesman Al Verney said: "Our privacy policy respects 
European law and allows us to create simpler, more effective services. 
We have engaged fully with CNIL throughout this process and will 
continue to do so going forward."
<br />
Now it's up to Google to decide whether the relatively small 
fines are enough of an incentive to rethink its privacy rules. Europe's a
 big market and one where Google has no serious competition.
<br />
However, the company does have a reputation problem when it comes
 to protecting user privacy. Friday's action puts new pressure on 
Google, which is smarting from criticism over providing customer data to
 the U.S. government as part of its fight against foreign terrorists.
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France to fine Google €300,000 over privacy rules

France said on Friday it will fine Google Inc. up to 300,000 euros ($402,180) for breaking rules on data privacy. The French agency that...