Google updates Privacy Policy ahead of GDPR
San Francisco, May 11: As the European Union (EU) prepares to introduce the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) on May 25 to harmonise data privacy laws, Google has updated the company's Privacy Policy to comply with it across all of the services the tech giant provides in the region.
The company laid out a new Privacy Policy in a blog post on Friday detailing exactly how and why Google collects the data that powers its various products.
"We have been working on our compliance efforts for over 18 months and ahead of the new law coming into effect we are updating our current Privacy Policy to make it easier to understand what information we collect and why we collect it," William Malcolm, Director, Privacy Legal EMEA at Google, wrote in the post.
After four years of debate, the GDPR was finally approved by the EU Parliament on April 14, 2016. Organisations that fail to comply with the new regulation may face hefty fines.
"We've explained our practices in more detail and with clearer language and added more detail about the options you have to manage, export and delete data from our services. The policy now also includes explanatory videos and illustrations, because a visual description can be easier to understand than text alone. And we've made it easier to jump to your privacy settings directly from the policy, helping you make choices about your privacy," the executive wrote.
Users would continue to have granular control over the data they share with the company when they use its services, but with clearer explanations.
"My Account", the central hub that brings together all the different ways users could review Google security, privacy and ad settings, has been improved.
With "Activity Controls", users can choose what activity is saved to their Google Account. They could view or delete data, including search history, location history, browsing history from the company's services.
Users can also take a "Security Checkup or Privacy Checkup" to reassure that their account is secure and that their privacy settings work for them.
"Manage or mute the ads you see on Google, on websites and in apps using the recently upgraded 'Ads Settings' tool and 'Mute This Ad control'," Malcolm said.
The users could get a clear overview of all the Google products that they use -- and the data associated with them -- via "Google Dashboard".
Under the new rules, companies must get consent from parents to process their children's data in certain circumstances.
For this Google is rolling out "Family Link" through which parents could create a Google Account for their child and are required to provide consent for certain processing of their child's data.
"Family Link" also allows parents to set certain digital ground rules on their child's Android device like approving or blocking apps, keeping an eye on screen time, or remotely locking their child's device.
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
Ready to face no-confidence motion, says Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah
Hassan (Karnataka) (PTI): Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Saturday said that the Congress government led by him was ready to face the no-confidence motion if moved by the opposition during the legislature session from December 8.
With Deputy CM D K Shivakumar by his side, he reiterated that they would both abide by the high command's decision on the leadership issue.
"Let them (opposition) bring in a no-confidence motion or adjournment motion or any other motion. We are ready to face it. Ours is an open book, transparent government. We are ready to face anything," Siddaramaiah said in response to a question.
However, BJP state President B Y Vijayendra and Leader of Opposition in the Legislative Assembly R Ashoka, clarified that the party, along with the JD(S) has not discussed or decided anything so far regarding moving a no-confidence motion against the government.
ALSO READ: CM Siddaramaiah labels Kumaraswamy 'Manuvadi' over Bhagavad Gita curriculum push
The winter session of the Karnataka legislature will begin in Belagavi, bordering Maharashtra, on December 8 and will go on till 19th of this month.
Not wanting to react to a question on the leadership issue, the CM said the Congress high command is very strong.
"D K Shivakumar and I will be committed to whatever the high command decides," he said.
Earlier in the day in Bengaluru, Shivakumar accompanied AICC Mallikarjun Kharge till airport from Vidhana Soudha, after paying tributes to B R Ambedkar on his 69th death anniversary, which had led to some speculation about possible discussion between the two on the leadership issue.
The power tussle within the ruling party had intensified amid speculation about a change in chief minister in the state, after the Congress government reached the halfway mark of its five-year term on November 20.
However, both the CM and Deputy CM had recently held breakfast meetings at each others residences, on the instructions of the high command, which is seen as a move to pause the leadership tussle between the two and to signal Siddaramaiah's continuation as the CM for the time being, especially ahead of the Belagavi legislature session.
