EU data privacy officers launch investigation into Google's Internet search engine - International Herald Tribune: "BRUSSELS, Belgium: An independent EU panel has launched an investigation into whether U.S.-based Google Inc.'s Internet search engine abides by European Union privacy rules, officials said Friday.

EU spokesman Pietro Petrucci said the 28-member panel, which advises the European Commission and EU governments on data protection issues, wants Google to answer concerns about the company's practice of storing and retaining personal information taken from users for up to two years.

'This group has addressed a letter to Google raising a number of questions,' Petrucci said, adding that EU Justice Commissioner Franco Frattini was backing the investigation.

'He considers those questions raised by the letter to be appropriate and legitimate,' Petrucci said.

Peter Fleischer, Google's global privacy counsel, said the company was doing a lot to protect personal data from users on its search engine.

'We believe it's an important part of our commitment to respect user privacy while balancing a number of important factors, such as maintaining security and preventing fraud and abuse,' Fleischer said, adding that Google was 'committed to engaging in a constructive dialogue.'

Google said it would answer EU privacy concerns before the panel's next meeting at the end of June.

The EU move follows recent action in the United States, where a consumer group asked the Federal Trade Commission to investigate Google's consumer privacy protections after the company proposed to buy online advertising company DoubleClick Inc.

EU officials said a letter was sent last week to Google asking whether the California-based company had 'fulfilled all the necessary requirements' to abide by EU data protection rules. Officials said the EU panel also asked for information on how Google retains personal data from its users."

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