Motion Filed to Stop Google's New Terms of Service (ToS) and Privacy Policies
The Electronic Privacy Information Center (EPIC) filed a Motion to enjoin Google from implementing new ToS and Privacy Policies on March 1, 2012. On February 8, 2012 EPIC filed a Motion for Temporary relief against the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to enforce Google’s March 2011 Agreement Containing Consent Order which included the FTC's oversight on Google’s Privacy Policies for 20 years. EPIC’s Motion comes on the heels of the EU’s request that Google slow down the implementation of the new ToS and Privacy Policies.
EPIC Motion claims that Google's new ToS and Privacy Policies violate the FTC Consent Order and includes the following claims:
Users will no longer be able to keep personal information they provide to use the Google email service for simply that service; Google will be able to combine the user information provided for email with other Google services, including the Google social network service.
Based on the March 1, 2012 date for the new Google ToS and Privacy Policies, EPIC reported that the court accelerated the briefing schedule so that the FTC must respond on February 17, 2012 and the EPIC file its reply by February 21, 2012.
As a result of this fast track for EPIC’s Motion it is likely we will have a ruling by the court before March 1, 2012.
