The Information Commissioner’s Office had intervened between
Google and a group of UK Internet users because of its interests to clarify the
jurisdiction of the country’s privacy laws.
The UK Internet users allege that Google used cookies to
track their browsing activity using Apple’s Safari browser in 2011 and 2012
against their wishes. The case has been ongoing since 2013. This follows an earlier
failed lawsuit against Google in the United States where the allegations could
not be proved because the victims do not have evidence they were harmed.
However, the US FTC had fined google with $22.5 million for
secretly bypassing Safari settings to
collect information from unwilling users.
The UK High Court initially rejected the argument of the UK
web users, which prompted the group to move their case into the United States.
At this point, Google went to the Court of Appeal to try to overturn the
ruling. This is when UK’s ICO intervened by submitting written evidence to the
court.
According to an ICO Spokesman, it is interested in the case
because it clarifies the issues about the jurisdiction of the law to serving
civil claims against foreign companies. The ICO submitted written evidence to
provide classes of personal data under the UK Data Protection act and when
personal data processing is taking place.
