UK: Competition watchdog attacks cloud storage providers

Cloud storage providers are treating customers unfairly and risk users losing access to their photos and other personal possessions, the competition regulator said.

An investigation by the Competition and Markets Authority found providers offered contract terms and practices that could breach consumer law.

About three in 10 adults in the UK use cloud services to store personal items such as photos, music, films and other documents on a remote server. Most services are free with smartphones and tablets. Providers include Apple iCloud, GoogleDrive, and Dropbox.

The CMA said that while cloud storage was a valuable service it was unhappy with some areas, including the ability of providers to change contract terms at any time, for any reason, and without giving notice.

Nisha Arora, the senior director of consumer at the CMA, said: “Cloud storage offers a convenient means of keeping family photos, favourite music and films and important documents safe, and accessing them quickly from any device.

“Our review found that people find these services really valuable. However, we also heard some complaints resulting from unfair terms in contracts. If left unchanged, these terms could result in people losing access to their treasured possessions or facing unexpected charges.”

Full Content: Computer Weekly

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