Dutch DPA Should Back Off Google

After a seven month investigation, Dutch prosecutors are pressing charges against Google for illegally taking users' data. The Dutch Data Protection Agency (DPA) claimed that Google was taking users information without their consent and they cricised Google's targeted ad market. They even went as far as to say that Google monopolized the internet, saying it is “almost impossible” for a Dutch user to avoid Google's services.

First of all, this lawsuit is way too late to be taken seriously. If the DPA had a problem with Google taking users' data, they should have spoken out a decade ago, as this has been going on for a long time now. While Google's privacy policy has changed over the years, it has always clearly stated that it will keep users' search data and even says specifically that it will use this data for targeted advertisements (among other things). If this claim was brought up 10 years ago, it might have had a chance, but at this point Google is so ingrained with Dutch society, that users are use to the targeted ads and seem to be okay with the data collection.

Second, Google's data collection is completely transparent. The privacy policy clearly explains the process of collecting users' data and even explains what the data will be used for. By using a Google service, users are agreeing to these terms (which are readily available to all users) and they are complying with the data collection. At any point, the user has the ability to avoid data collection from Google as well, without even using proxies. Google has specifically given the ability to block data collection in most (if not all) of its services, if the user would like.

Worst of all is the DPA claim that it is “almost impossible” for Dutch users to avoid using Google services. While Google may be the best in many different aspects of internet (such as search and video streaming), it is not the only option. There are plenty of other options for every service that Google offers, and Google definitely does not have a monopoly. Bing, for example, is a valuable alternative to Google, and being backed by Microsoft, it is a reliable service. Although Google may be the most popular of these services, it is definitely not impossible to avoid using it. In many aspects it is even better to use alternatives, such as using Microsoft Office over Google Docs.

 In short, the Dutch DPA is completely out of line in suing the internet powerhouse, Google. Google has cooperated with the Dutch authorities throughout the years and continues to do so, even through this lawsuit. Google has maintained a transparent privacy policy and has never broken its terms of service with the user. And most importantly, Google is not the only option for Dutch users. Google is not taking over the market or suffocating its competitors. In fact, it has never used its influence to sway users away from its competition. For all of these reasons, it is ridiculous for the DPA to attempt such a lawsuit, and it would save everyone's time if the DPA would just back off. Let the Dutch people make this decision.