Google accused of manipulation to "spy" on users

Seven European consumer organizations on Tuesday seized national regulators by accusing Google of manipulating its users to "spy" their movements in violation of the new rules on data protection (GDPR), announced the European Bureau of Consumer Unions (BEUC ).

The complaint lodged in Norway, the Netherlands, Poland, Greece, the Czech Republic, Slovenia and Sweden is based on a study by the Norwegian Consumer Organization which concludes that the US giant "uses a design and misleading information that leads users to agree to be constantly monitored. "

"Google processes extremely detailed and exhaustive personal data without proper legal basis, and the data is acquired through manipulation techniques," said Gro Mette Moen, a senior official at the Norwegian organization.

He is criticized for tracking his users via the "Location History" and "Web Activity and Applications" settings embedded in all Google Accounts.
"Location data can reveal a lot about a person: his movements in real time, the places he frequents regularly, his daily routines, his interests, etc.," notes the Norwegian organization in its complaint. "Constant tracking of location and aggregation of location data over time can be used to draw very detailed portraits of individuals and to deduce their religious beliefs, political inclinations, and sexual orientation among other things," he said. she.

The organization is calling for an investigation, an injunction to stop Google's "illegal" practices and a "dissuasive" fine against the group.

According to the Norwegian study, this permanent monitoring is particularly difficult to avoid with the Android operating system which, according to the Statcounter site, equips nearly 70% of mobiles (Samsung, Huawei) in Europe.

"Google's thirst for data is well known, but the extent to which it misleads users to follow them and make money is frightening," said BEUC Director Monique Goyens. "The situation is more than alarming: smartphones are used to spy on all movements." "This secret spinning has to stop", also summoned the Dutch consumer association Consumentenbond.

Google responded by saying "constantly working to improve (its) controls". "Location History is disabled by default and you can edit, delete, or pause it at any time, and if it is enabled it helps improve services such as traffic forecasts on your route." replied the Californian group. "If you pause it, we're clear – depending on your individual phone and your settings – that we could always collect and use location data to improve your Google experience," he added.

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