Spain's data protection agency fines Google for breaching laws

PanARMENIAN.Net - Spain's data protection agency says it has fined search engine giant Google 900,000 euros ($1.2 million) for three serious breaches of the country's laws, the Associated Press reports.

The agency says in a statement that it was imposing a fine of 300,000 euros for each breach, and requesting that Google comply with the law without delay.

The statement issued on Thursday, Dec 19, says Google collects and processes personal information illegally, that it combines personal information for purposes that are "not determined clearly" and that personal data is stored and maintained "for indeterminate periods of time."

Data watchdogs in France, Britain, Germany, Italy, Netherlands and Spain have said Google needs to provide additional guarantees to comply with national privacy protection rules in each of those countries.

Marisa Toro, Google's spokesperson in Spain, said the company was studying the statement.