Google privacy compensation sought by UK campaigner
A privacy campaigner and consultant has filed a small claim in a protest against Google's privacy policy update.
Alexander Hanff, a privacy consultant who is based in Lancaster, filed a claim of £400 against Google on Wednesday via online small claims service moneyclaim.gov.uk.
"I wanted to find a route that was relatively low risk and low cost — the cost of filing in Small Claims Court was only £35 using moneyclaim.gov.uk," Hanff told ZDNet UK via an email exchange. "The reason I took this route was not for my own protection but mainly for other members of the public who might want to consider similar action should my claim be successful. The last thing I wanted to do was pursue a legal route which could leave people facing potentially astronomical costs if they lose — it is very rare in Small Claims Court for costs to be awarded against the loser, so I saw this as the safest route for consumers."
Hanff brought the claim, which has been accepted by the court, in protest at Google's new sharing of data across its services. Google's updated privacy policy came into force on Thursday.
"The changes, which will see Google merging data from multiple platforms and services (including Android devices) in order to further monetise that data on their advertising platforms, are a significant infringement of my right to privacy and I do not consent to Google being able to use my data in such a way," Hanff said in a synopsis of the claim. "In order for me to purchase a new phone to replace the Google Android device I currently use with a non-Android device, the costs would be significant (around £400), as this cost is caused by Google's privacy policy changes I have sought remedy through the courts for Google to meet these costs."
Hanff said he had not heard from Google on Wednesday.
Google's updated privacy policy has caused disquiet among regulators. The EU is in the process of investigating the company after French regulatory body CNIL found Google may be breaking European data protection law. US consumer group the Center for Digital Democracy filed a complaint with US regulator the FTC on Wednesday.
Google UK was not available for comment at the time of writing.