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Italian Watchdog Looks To Fine Google Over Restrictive Clauses

By  |  November 8, 2021

Italy’s antitrust regulator has started proceedings to fine Google for allegedly restrictive clauses in the terms of service consumers have to accept to use Google Drive, reported Reuters. 

In a filing, the antitrust said the proceedings had to be wrapped up within 120 days.

The authority is concerned that the services fail to adequately explain how user data will be collected and used for commercial purposes. It’s also investigating unfair clauses in the services’ contracts, terms that exempt the services from some liability and the prevalence of English versions of contracts over Italian versions.

The authority has launched six investigations in total, including over alleged violations of Italy’s Consumer Rights Directive. Google is being probed over complaints of unfair practices by failing to adequately indicate to users when their data is being collected for commercial purposes.

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