---

Published: June 2008

Google should comply with California privacy law

Coalition: Privacy

Consumer Action joined in a letter asking Eric Schmidt, CEO of Google, to post a direct link to its privacy policy on its homepage, in accordance with California law.

We are writing to you on behalf of California consumers and Internet users around the world to urge Google to include a direct link to its privacy policy on its homepage.

California law requires the operator of a commercial web site to “conspicuously post its privacy policy on its Web site.” The straightforward reading of that law is that Google must place the word “privacy” on the Google.com web page linked to its privacy policy. Moreover, just about every major company that operates a web site places a link to its privacy policy on its homepage.

While we do not believe that a privacy policy is a guarantee of privacy protection, it does represent a commitment by a commercial web site to inform users about the company's privacy practices.

Google's reluctance to post a link to its privacy policy on its homepage is alarming. We urge you to comply with the California Online Privacy Protection Act and the widespread practice for commercial web sites as soon as possible.

Other Organizations

ACLU of Northern California | Center for Digital Democracy | Center for Financial Privacy and Human Rights | Consumer Federation of California | Electronic Frontier Foundation | Electronic Privacy Information Center | Identity Theft Action Council of Nebraska | Knowledge Ecology International | Privacy Lives | Privacy Rights Clearinghouse | Privacy Times | U.S. Bill of Rights Foundation | World Privacy Forum

Download PDF

No Download Available