Antitrust: 'Google will change the request for consent'
Agcm investigation launched in July 2024 into Alphabet's services ends 'with commitments'
The Antitrust Authority has concluded with commitments the investigation initiated in July 2024 concerning the requirement of users' consent to the 'linking' of services offered by Google. This was stated in a note by the Authority for Competition and the Market.
As a result of the Antitrust intervention, 'Google will amend the request for consent, providing clearer and more precise information on the implications of consent on the use of users' personal data and on the variety and quantity of Google services (including artificial intelligence services, such as Gemini) in respect of which there may be 'combined' and 'cross-use' of personal data if consent is given'.
Moreover, explains the Agcm, 'the company will give clearer and more precise information on the possibility of modulating (and therefore also limiting) such consent to only certain services and on the circumstance that, if the services are not linked, most of the functions will remain unaffected. In addition, to all Italian users who, at the time of the dissemination of the new request for consent, will have already expressed a preference, Google will send an individual communication summarising the choice made and highlighting the information contained in the new request for consent'.
