EU threatens action to defend Web users' privacy

The European Union's Consumer Affairs Commissioner Meglena Kuneva says some Internet companies are abusing consumers' personal data and this cannot be allowed to continue. In an upcoming speech, she'll threaten EU intervention to set tougher rules on how Internet users' personal data is collected, analyzed and shared by search engines and service providers. "The current situation with regard to privacy, profiling and targeting is not satisfactory. Basic consumer rights in terms of transparency, control and risk are being violated and this cannot continue." Kuneva warns that if the industry fails to offer adequate responses on data collection and profiling, the European Commission will not hesitate to intervene. "We must establish the principles of transparency, clear language, opt-in or opt-out options that are meaningful and easy to use."