Privacy Laws Trip Up Google's Expansion in Parts of Europe

Almost five years into its expansion into Europe, Google is getting caught in a web of privacy laws that threaten its growth and the positive image it has cultivated as a company dedicated to doing good. "The privacy issue will likely become increasingly important for Google as it continues to offer new services in Europe," said Dirk Lewandowski, a professor of information sciences at the University of Applied Sciences in Hamburg. "For the moment, most consumers are not aware their data is being used by Google in some fashion. But I think as people become aware of this, there could be protests that Google will have to address."