The Italian Competition Authority has launched an investigation against Google and its parent company, Alphabet, on 18 July 2024. The investigation focuses on Google’s methods of requesting user consent for linking its various services, which the Authority suspects may constitute misleading and aggressive commercial practices.
Context and Allegations
The Authority asserts that Google’s consent requests provide inadequate, incomplete, and misleading information regarding the real impact of consenting on the use of personal data. This lack of clarity can affect users’ decisions on whether and how much consent to provide.
Key Issues Identified
- Inadequate Information: The consent requests reportedly fail to inform users adequately about the effects of their consent on data usage.
- Misleading Practices: Information provided is allegedly imprecise, potentially leading users to misunderstand the implications.
- Combination and Cross-Use of Data: Users are not clearly informed about the combination and cross-use of personal data across Google’s numerous services.
- Conditional Freedom of Choice: The methods and techniques used by Google to obtain consent may pressure users into making decisions they might not otherwise make.
Next Steps
The Authority will further scrutinize Google’s consent mechanisms and the information provided to users. This investigation could lead to significant changes in how Google requests and manages user consent.
The press release is available here.
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