Google Runs Afoul Of Canadian Privacy Law

Coming a few hours after word surfaced that Google will be appealing a fine issued by France over privacy violations, issues have arisen over another breach of privacy, with this particular instance resulting in Canada. According to the nation's Privacy Commissioner, Google utilized so-called "sensitive personal information" to target certain advertisements in violation of privacy law.

In Canada, advertisers are not allowed to collect sensitive personal information, including under such a definition anything that is health related. The privacy violation issue arose when one man complained he searched for info on sleep apnea devices via Google, only to later be shown related advertisements on websites that had nothing to do with that topic, revealing that information of his search was used to select and furnish up ads.

The complaint prompted an investigation, and during such the Internet giant explained the issue as remarking campaigns utilized by advertisers. Some Google advertisers do not follow Google's policies on advertisements, and at the end of things, stuff like sensitive data can end up being used to target Web browsers.

Said Google Canada's Leslie Church in a statement to The Financial Times: "We've worked closely with the Office of the Privacy Commissioner throughout this process and are pleased to be resolving this issue." Google will make upgrades to its review system, ramp up monitoring of remarketing campaigns, and provide additional information to its advertisers.

SOURCE: The Financial Times