CFPHR letter to Google regarding Link to Its Privacy Policy
CFPHR letter to Google regarding Link to Its Privacy Policy
June 3, 2008
Letter to Google regarding Link to Its Privacy Policy “>Google letter
June 3, 2008
Dr. Eric Schmidt,
CEOGoogle Inc.
1600 Amphitheatre Parkway
Mountain View, CA 94043
Dear Dr. Schmidt,
We are writing to you on behalf of California consumers and Internetusers 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 placesa link to its privacy policy on its homepage.
While we do not believe that a privacy policy is a guarantee of privacyprotection, it does represent a commitment by a commercial web site toinform users about the company’s privacy practices.
Google’s reluctance to post a link to its privacy policy on its homepageis alarming. We urge you to comply with the California Online PrivacyProtection Act and the widespread practice for commercial web sites assoon as possible.
Sincerely,
ACLU of Northern California
San Francisco, CA
Center for Digital Democracy
Washington, DC
Center for Financial Privacy and Human Rights
Washington, DC
Consumer Action
Los Angeles, CA
Consumer Federation of California
San Mateo, CA
Electronic Frontier Foundation
San Francisco, CA
Electronic Privacy Information Center
Washington, DC
Identity Theft Action Council of Nebraska
Omaha, Nebraska
Knowledge Ecology International
Washington, DC
Privacy Lives
Washington, DC
Privacy Rights Clearinghouse
San Diego, CA
Privacy Times
Cabin John, MD
U.S. Bill of Rights Foundation
Washington, DC
World Privacy Forum
San Diego, CA
Cc: Joanne McNabb, California’s Office of Privacy ProtectionEdmund J. Brown, California Attorney Genera