Google pushes US to extend privacy protections to Europe

Google on Wednesday pressed Congress to extend some U.S. privacy rights to its European Union counterparts. 

The search giant wants legislation that would allow European citizens to use the U.S. court system to challenge the unauthorized disclosure of their personal information. 

{mosads}”The emergence of ISIS and other new threats have reminded us all of the dangers we face,” said Google’s chief legal officer David Drummond in a blog post. 

“But the balance in the US and many other countries has tipped too far in favor of the state and away from the rights of the individual — rights that are enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.”

The post came a day before European Commission representatives are slated to visit Washington. 

The United States and the European Union have a law enforcement partnership, in which they share information to fight terrorism and other crime. 

EU citizens do not currently have rights to challenge the unauthorized disclosure of that information if it is revealed by the United States “intentionally or willfully.” U.S. citizens can challenge disclosures using the U.S. Privacy Act. 

Attorney General Eric Holder already endorsed the proposal this summer while traveling overseas. And Google said making the change would extend an olive branch to technology companies.

Google said it and other companies have been pushing for more substantial reforms since the Edward Snowden leaks last year. 

“Sadly, we’ve seen little serious reform to date,” Drummond wrote.