Lawmakers question Google on its new privacy practices

Google ’s decisiveness this hebdomad to apportion user data across its online services has capture the attention of eight members of the U.S. House of Representatives , with the lawmakers asking whether the changes will compromise privateness .

The eight lawgiver , three Republican and five Democrats , said the move bring up question about consumer privacy . The eight , include Republican Representatives Cliff Stearns of Florida and Joe Barton of Texas , and Democrats Edward Markey of Massachusetts and Henry Waxman of California , institutionalize a letter arouse their concerns to Google CEO Larry Page on Thursday .

“ Google ’s declaration raises questions about whether consumer can choose out of the novel data share-out system either globally or on a product - by - product base , ” the lawgiver wrote . “ We believe that consumers should have the ability to opt out of datum collection when they are not comfortable with a troupe ’s terms of servicer and that the power to exercise that selection should be simple and straightforward . ”

Google , with about 350 million Gmail users and several other pop services , “ touches the life of well-nigh every person ” with an net connection , the letter of the alphabet tell .

Google say on Tuesday that it plans to share user data across its services when a substance abuser is logged in . The change , to go into consequence March 1 , will give Google user practiced search resultant role and a “ more intuitive ” Google experience , the society say .

But the lawgiver require a issue of interrogation in their letter , include how Google will notify customer of the change and how Google decides to enable new data - sharing features .

“ While Google hint that the purpose of this shift in insurance policy is to make the consumer experience simpler , we require to verify it does not make protecting consumer seclusion more complicated , ” the lawmakers wrote .

The lawmakers also asked if Google allows users to for good cancel their personal info from its archives and if Google retains information from delete accounts . They also asked if Google plans to offer “ distinct ” seclusion protections for children and teens , and how users of Android smartphones will be affected .

The lawgiver ask for a answer to the letter , containing about 20 question , by Feb. 16 .