"European Union legislation requires companies to protect the personal information of EU citizens"
It's the law. What's more, it's a good law. I am concerned that they broke it, and seem to have tried to hide this.
It's the law. What's more, it's a good law. I am concerned that they broke it, and seem to have tried to hide this.
By, uh, mentioning it to journalists? There's a difference between hiding something and simply not announcing it loudly to the world.
But not a huge difference. It's something that would definitely be of interest.
They don't seem to have tried to hide anything. From another report: http://www.h-online.com/security/news/item/Google-also-passe...
The previous Microsoft admission that sparked this line of questioning: http://www.h-online.com/news/item/US-authorities-have-access...
Relevant: the Google Transparency Report: http://www.google.com/transparencyreport/
I reject the idea that a US law is more important in Europe than an European one. If that is what has happened, then it is wrong.
If nothing was hidden, why is this policy only coming to light after the fact? There seems to be some degree of not wanting people to know.
There are a number of reasons why both the government and the companies would want to keep it secret:
1. Bad reputation for the company.
2. Bad reputation for the government on how much spying they actually are doing.
3. "keep quiet about it in order to avoid exposing active investigations" (this point I would think to be irrelevant in this case however)
Which are much the same reasons why someone who has stolen a TV would want to keep that secret. It doesn't make it an idea worth encouraging.
I think they should be punished by law to the fullest extent available. Along with everybody that was responsible and is within the reach of EU law.
Actually, the EU should request extradition of those responsible that reside in the US, even if they didn't break the US law. Fair, isn't it?
For the parts of Google in the US - yes. For the parts of Google in the EU - no.
That's a very incorrect statement. Noone can make you break the law.
In this case, the correct interpretation is, preventing US companies from having EU subsidiaries. Which means that the US offices have to be a subsidiary of some overseas corporation (i.e. make Google incorporate in Europe, or possibly some tax&law haven, like Cayman islands (I don't actually know about the laws there, but I'm sure there is a place on earth that would be ok)).