Google rolls out new privacy policy amid criticism

Despite sharp criticism from US and European consumer advocacy groups , Google on Thursday rolled out its new privacy policy that would allow the company to track users across various services to develop targeted advertising.

Google had announced its new privacy policy with much fanfare last month. The rules would regulate how the Web giant uses the enormous amounts of personal data its collects through its search engine, email and other services .

But critics including European privacy agencies and US consumer watchdogs argued the new policy, which offers no ability to opt out aside from refraining from signing into Google services, gives the Internet giant unprecedented ability to monitor its users.

A coalition of European and US consumer advocacy groups made a last-ditch appeal to Internet search and advertising giant Google on Wednesday to delay the changes.

The French consumer data protection agency CNIL warned this week that Google may be in violation of European privacy norms.

With agency inputs