Google faces privacy breach battle in Britain

Google is facing a legal battle from British internet users complaining that their privacy has been breached.

A group of 12 people, all of whom use Apple devices, are seeking damages after claiming that their browsing habits were secretly tracked.

It is thought the case, being brought by law firm Olswang, is the first of its kind in Britain.

They say cookies, small tracking files, were installed by Google on the computers and mobile devices of those using the Safari internet browser without their knowledge.

Cookies are used by advertisers and owners of other websites to target advertising based on an individual’s internet use.

Claimants thought that cookies would be blocked because of assurances given by Google in the time their devices were allegedly affected, from summer 2011 to spring 2012, and also because of Safari’s default settings.

Dan Tench of Olswang, said: “Google has a responsibility to consumers and should be accountable for the trust placed in them.”

Judith Vidal-Hall, 74, former editor of magazine Index on Censorship, has issued proceedings against Google after claiming they had covertly tracked her use of the internet.

She said: “Google claims it does not collect personal data but doesn’t say who decides what information is personal.

“Whether something is private or not should be up to the internet surfer, not Google. We are best placed to decide, not them.”

A Facebook group called Safari Users Against Google’s Secret Tracking has been set up and Olswang believes it could prompt others to take action. It is estimated there were 10m users of Apple products in the UK at the relevant time.