Denmark asks Google to destroy sensitive data

COPENHAGEN - Denmark has asked Google to destroy all sensitive data collected illegally in the country and “is waiting impatiently” for the final confirmation from the internet giant.

Denmark’s Data Protection Agency has asked Google to provide a written notice confirming its deletion of all illegal data. Google has, however, not yet confirmed to the data inspectorate that it will destroy the information, Xinhua reported, citing a statement published in Danish newspaper Berlingske Tidente.

“We have required that the Danish data should be deleted, but we need to receive a confirmation from Google that all data from Denmark is completely erased,” Lena Andersen, head of the Data Protection Agency, was quoted as saying.

“We actually urged Google to provide such a claim no later than yesterday, and now expect to get answers soon,” she said.

A month ago, Google announced it would disclose private data collected by its photo trails. The trails collected information people sent over non-encrypted Wi-Fi networks in the last three years.

Google’s actions sparked international outrages.

In Britain, the Information Commissioner’s Office has ordered Google to destroy all the data it collected illegally in 2008. In Australia, police have been asked to investigate the functioning of the internet giant. In Germany, Google was asked to hand over all sensitive data to the authorities no later than May 26. Investigations are also under way in Canada and the US.