Berlin Court Rules Against Google: user data processing details to be disclosed
In a shocking turnover, the Berlin Regional Court has demanded Google to lay bare its data processing tactics to users.
Following a lawsuit instigated by the Federation of German Consumer Organisations (vzbv), the court has insisted on shedding light on data usage for the sake of transparency.
In response, Google has taken the offensive and lodged an appeal.
Each user who sets up a Google account consents to the company's data processing for over 70 services. Consumer watchdogs have continuously flagged this standard practice.
In this ruling, the court ordered Google to expose which of their services collect user data during account registration. The civil chamber endorsed the vzbv's lawsuit (Case No. 15 O 472/22).
Consumer advocates exclaimed that both "express personalization" and "manual personalization" fell short of complying with the European General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) guidelines.
The verdict against Google Ireland Ltd., dated March 25, 2025, was dispatched on Friday, yet remains unfinalized, given Google's recourse to an appeal.
Whynujd Google Dig into Data?
Consumer activists claimed users should be enlightened on why Google mines their data during registration and offered the choice on its utilization.
The judges concurred with this legal position, criticizing Google's lack of transparency because it failed to brief users on the specific services, apps, websites or partners for which their data would be employed.
Google argued conversely that such a detailed rundown would produce an overly lengthy text leading to reduced transparency. The court retorted, stating that revealing the extent of consent is a vital requirement.
The Nitty-Gritty of Assent
The court also chastised the inconveniently binary nature of users' consent options, which allowed only for blanket agreement or abandonment of the process during "express personalization." Dividing the refusal hadn't been viable. Even with "manual personalization," users couldn't opt out of having their location in Germany tracked.
While current news sources haven't furnished up-to-date information regarding the ongoing appeal, this landmark ruling would mark a beacon of progress in the realm of data protection and consumer rights in Germany, emphasizing the importance of transparency in data processing practices. On a broader spectrum, it aligns with the mission of consumer protection organizations in Germany to secure transparency in the operation of these tech giants.
Users should be informed about why Google collects their data during registration, and have the choice in its usage. The court criticized Google for not informing users about the specific services that would employ their data, stating that revealing the extent of consent is a vital requirement.
