The probe regards the request for consent that Google sends its users regarding their services offered.
According to the competition watchdog, it “may constitute a misleading and aggressive commercial practice”.
“This request appears to provide no relevant information - or provides it inadequately and imprecisely - as to the real effect that consent has on Google’s use of personal data of users,” it added.
“The same critical issues arise with respect to the variety and number of Google’s services for which ‘combination’ and ‘cross-use’ of personal data may occur, and with respect to the possibility of modulating [and thus limiting] consent to only some services.
“The Authority also alleges that Google may use techniques and methods for requesting consent, and also for setting up the mechanisms for obtaining consent itself, which could condition the freedom of choice of the average consumer.
“[Customers are] induced to take a commercial decision that they would not have taken otherwise, by consenting to the combination and cross-use of their personal data among the plurality of services offered.”
ANSA
