U.S. Internet giant Google Inc. agreed to supplement its new privacy policy so users can better control personal data they do not want to share, South Korea's communications watchdog said Thursday.
The Korea Communications Commission (KCC) said the company will take steps to better notify users on processing information gathered via its search engines and other Internet accounts, as well as give freedom to restrict data collection.
The move marks the first time that the world's leading search engine and service provider has taken steps to alleviate concerns that its updated data processing policy could infringe on personal privacy and restrict use. The actions also conform to Korea guidelines on data privacy protection and rights of Internet users.
The new privacy policy that went into effect in earnest worldwide on March 1 calls for consolidating the numerous guidelines set for people using such services as Gmail, YouTube and social networks into a single rule. Google said that the new policy could allow it to better pool the data it can collect so as to customize and improve services.
In addition, to improving services for users, the move can be used to sell user-specific advertising.
The KCC recommended earlier in the year that Google must tell users why it wants to collect personal data and get approval. It also called on the Internet service provider to notify mandatory requirements on information gathering as mandated by South Korean law and not to discriminate against people who do not agree to allow Google to collect personal information.
In response, Google's office in Seoul said it has agreed to provide more information as part of a supplement to Korean users to help them better understand its approach to privacy.
"We will better inform users of tools they can use to manage and ensure the security of the information they choose to store in their Google accounts," the company said in a statement.
The tools can be used on Google's services such as its Dashboard account to control information that can be collected through email, contacts a person has made, the general profile of a user, and the most recent entries from a user's web search history.
The KCC, meanwhile, said that Google is expected to explain what supplements it will make on its Web site on April 15.
Besides receiving recommendations to improve its privacy policy from Seoul, Google is facing similar requests by the European Union.(Yonhap)