Google queried on privacy policy

[gkd_uk]

Google has been told that it may be breaking European privacy laws by keeping people's search information on its servers for up to two years.
A data protection group that advises the European Union has written to the search giant to express concerns.

The Article 29 group, made up of data protection commissioners around the EU, has asked Google to clarify its policy.

Peter Fleischer, Google's global privacy counsel, said the firm was committed to dialogue with the group.

"We believe it's an important part of our commitment to respect user privacy while balancing a number of important factors, such as maintaining security and preventing fraud and abuse," Mr Fleischer said.

"This group has addressed a letter to Google raising a number of questions," EU spokesman Pietro Petrucci said, adding that the Union's Justice Commissioner Franco Frattini was backing the investigation.

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