Google announces privacy settings change across products; users can’t opt out

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64. Breach of new EU online data rules to carry high fines

(Reuters) - The European Commission proposed new online data privacy rules on Wednesday, putting more responsibility on companies to protect users' information, and said those who breach the code could be fined up to two percent of annual turnover.

After two years of examining the shifts in Internet use and the behaviour of consumers using websites such as Facebook, Google and Yahoo!, the European commissioner in charge of data privacy, Viviane Reding, said she was determined to give individuals more control over their personal information.

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Originally Reding had wanted to fine companies a maximum of five percent of their annual global turnover for any breach of the rules. That has been scaled down to two percent, but is still a potentially vast figure.

For Google, for example, a breach of the rules could result in a fine of up to $800 million (513 million pound), based on expected full-year revenues in 2011.

http://uk.reuters.com/article/2012/01/25/uk-eu-dataprivacy-idUKTRE80O0WW20120125