عربي English Türkçe اردو فارسى
Logo
Latest News
Technology

Italy's Antitrust Takes Aim at Google over Personal Data Usage

FILED - 09 January 2024, US, Las Vegas: The Google logo can be seen on the Internet company's pavilion at the CES technology trade fair. Photo: Andrej Sokolow/dpa
FILED - 09 January 2024, US, Las Vegas: The Google logo can be seen on the Internet company's pavilion at the CES technology trade fair. Photo: Andrej Sokolow/dpa
TT
TT

Italy's Antitrust Takes Aim at Google over Personal Data Usage

FILED - 09 January 2024, US, Las Vegas: The Google logo can be seen on the Internet company's pavilion at the CES technology trade fair. Photo: Andrej Sokolow/dpa
FILED - 09 January 2024, US, Las Vegas: The Google logo can be seen on the Internet company's pavilion at the CES technology trade fair. Photo: Andrej Sokolow/dpa

Italy's antitrust agency said on Thursday it had launched an investigation into online search giant Google and its parent company Alphabet over alleged unfair commercial practices involving users' personal data.
The request for consent that Google sends to its users to connect its multiple services "could constitute misleading and aggressive commercial practice", the watchdog said.
This "incomplete and misleading," information supplied to users fails to clarify the impact their consent may have on the use their personal data, the antitrust authority, which is in charge of overseeing consumer rights, added.
Google offers a wide range of online tools, including video platform YouTube, email service Gmail, and Maps.
The antitrust body said Google presented its request for users' consent in a way that could limit their freedom of choice, by inducing them to agree to a combined usage of personal data by different Google services.
"We will analyze the details of this case and will work cooperatively with the authority," a Google spokesperson said in a statement.
Under Italian legislation companies found in breach of consumer rights rules face fines ranging from 5,000 euros to 10 million euros.

Most Viewed

 
 
Technology

Google, Microsoft Offer Nvidia Chips to Chinese Companies

General view of Microsoft Corporation headquarters at Issy-les-Moulineaux, near Paris, France, April 18, 2016. REUTERS/Charles Platiau/File Photo
General view of Microsoft Corporation headquarters at Issy-les-Moulineaux, near Paris, France, April 18, 2016. REUTERS/Charles Platiau/File Photo
TT
TT

Google, Microsoft Offer Nvidia Chips to Chinese Companies

General view of Microsoft Corporation headquarters at Issy-les-Moulineaux, near Paris, France, April 18, 2016. REUTERS/Charles Platiau/File Photo
General view of Microsoft Corporation headquarters at Issy-les-Moulineaux, near Paris, France, April 18, 2016. REUTERS/Charles Platiau/File Photo

Google and Microsoft's cloud divisions are offering Chinese companies access to Nvidia's AI chips by providing data center services in locations outside China, the Information reported on Wednesday.

The Biden administration has taken measures to prevent firms in China from using US technology for artificial intelligence, including advanced semiconductors, as the burgeoning sector raises security concerns, Reuters reported.

Microsoft, Alphabet, Nvidia and the Department of Commerce did not immediately respond to Reuters requests for comment.

The Biden administration has proposed requiring cloud companies to determine whether foreign entities are accessing data centers in the United States to train AI models, US Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo told Reuters in January.

Microsoft offers server rental services, including those with Nvidia's A100 and H100 chips, to Chinese customers through data centers outside China, the Information reported, citing an employee of the Windows maker with knowledge of the services and a person directly involved in the sales.

Google lets customers in China use servers based outside of mainland China, and is confident that its offerings comply with US export controls, the publication said, citing a person familiar with the matter.