Dutch consumer group Consumentenbond is backing a massive legal claim against Google for unlawfully collecting and processing personal data from Dutch consumers in violation of Netherlands’ and EU laws, the group said in a statement.
According to Consumentenbond and Stichting Bescherming Privacybelangen — the privacy lobby leading the potential lawsuit — Google also passes collected data “to countries outside of Europe, exposing Dutch consumers to the risk of surveillance by foreign governments.”
Translated into English, the Dutch consumer union’s official statement says Google has been maximizing its profit gains with data collection while bypassing the explicit consent of the Dutch people.
“Google exploits its users and makes enormous profits from doing this. Google has been getting rich at the expense of the privacy of consumers for years and this has to stop,” the director of Consumentenbond Sandra Molenaar said.
Google is no stranger to privacy complaints. It was fined almost $400 million in November 2022 after being accused of collecting users’ location data in non-transparent ways.
VPNOverview has reached out to Google for comments.
Illegal Data Practices: Tracking and Monetization of Personal Information
The lobbies have demanded that Google immediately ceases illegal data-gathering practices, which include tracking consumers online and monetizing their data to maximize profit without consumers’ explicit consent — violations of Dutch and EU GDPR law.
“Google collects data about consumers’ location and online activity, regardless of whether users seek to conceal these disclosures, in a manner that makes legal user consent to this activity impossible. Google also employs design techniques called “dark patterns” which manipulate users into taking actions that unknowingly provide access to their personal data and compromise their privacy rights,” Molenaar told VPNOverview in an email.
“Google’s transfer of personal data outside of Europe without proper legal grounds not only breaches the fundamental rights to privacy but also contravenes the General Data Protection Regulation,” the chair of Stichting Bescherming Privacybelangen Ada van der Veer said.
According to Molenaar, Google’s illegal practices violate Dutch and European laws and put Dutch customers at risk of surveillance by foreign governments.
The groups require systemic changes to Google’s practices and financial compensation for all Dutch consumers affected by these privacy breaches. Otherwise, they will take the tech giant to court.
“We strive for Big Tech companies to respect consumers’ privacy and to comply with all legislation. And we will force them to do so in any way we can. For example, by filing complaints or, like in this case, by legal action,” Molenaar said.
In December 2022, the Federal Trade Commission accused Epic Games of using dark patterns to coerce children into unwittingly making in-game purchases. This led to a historic $520 million settlement agreement.
How to Secure Your Privacy
Google (Alphabet Inc.) is a colossal company that owns and runs numerous companies, including Android and YouTube, which have several billion monthly active users. Additionally, billions of users use Google’s Search and Gmail daily.
Experts have noted how far-reaching a privacy breach could be, especially as the company is known to collect and analyze personal information even when users activate privacy settings.
Consumentenbond said the joint legal action builds on previous initiatives against Facebook, TikTok, and other tech companies.
“In our experience, especially Big Tech companies will not alter their unlawful behavior unless they are forced to do so. Either by hefty fines or by court rulings by which they are obliged to pay. We have to hit them where it hurts: financially,” Molenaar explained.
We’ve compiled an overview of what Google knows about you, including tips on securing the privacy of your Google accounts and other platforms run by Google.
