LIVE UPDATES
The UK's privacy regulator has raised concerns about Google's proposed replacements for cookies, emphasizing the need for stronger measures to safeguard consumer privacy, as reported by the Wall Street Journal, on Thursday.
According to an internal document reviewed by the Wall Street Journal, the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) expressed reservations about Google's proposed technology, known as Privacy Sandbox, stating that it contains vulnerabilities that could compromise user privacy and potentially expose anonymous individuals.
Privacy Sandbox is an initiative aimed at phasing out third-party cookies and minimizing cross-site and cross-app tracking while ensuring that online content remains accessible to all users.
Google intends to fully eliminate the use of third-party cookies for users by the second half of 2024.
The ICO is urging Google to address these concerns and has indicated its intention to share its apprehensions with the UK's Competition and Markets Authority (CMA), according to the Wall Street Journal.
The CMA, the UK's competition watchdog, has committed to considering the ICO's recommendations as part of its assessment of Google's plans.
In response to the report, a Google spokesperson stated in an emailed statement to Reuters, "We've been closely engaging with the ICO, and other privacy and competition regulators globally, and will continue to do that to reach an outcome that works for users and the entire ecosystem."
The CMA has been investigating Google's proposal to scale back support for certain cookies in the Chrome browser, expressing concerns that this move could hinder competition in the digital advertising landscape.
