ICO calls the fingerprinting policy change irresponsible
Information Commission's OfficeUnited Kingdom information-rights regulator, then the Information Commissioner's Office
The ICO called the change irresponsible and argued that fingerprinting weakens user control.
“We think this change is irresponsible.”
Official statement
Where this statement fits
Was Google right to stop prohibiting digital fingerprinting in its ad-platform rules?
Google announced advertising-platform policy changes on December 18, 2024, effective February 16, 2025, that removed its prohibition on device fingerprinting. Google cited privacy technologies and advertising across more devices. The UK Information Commissioner's Office called the change irresponsible, arguing that fingerprinting weakens users' control over tracking. The dispute concerns Google's platform permission and its privacy consequences. The revised policy still imposes disclosure and consent requirements, and it does not override privacy law.
Source and context
Official statement
About this source
The regulator objects to the effect on user control and explains that privacy law still applies. Information Commission's Office, Our response to Google's policy change on fingerprinting, December 19, 2024, licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
Before the quotation
The regulator says fingerprinting can identify devices from combined signals that users cannot readily erase.
After the quotation
It stresses that businesses still need lawful, fair and transparent practices, including consent where required.
How this statement is classified
The label describes this statement's response within the context above.
Why this label?
The case examines Google's permission for advertiser fingerprinting. The ICO directly criticizes that policy change; it is not defending the policy merely because it supports privacy-law enforcement.
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The Dispute Index. "ICO calls the fingerprinting policy change irresponsible". First published: 2026-10-12. Last updated: 2026-10-12. https://disputeindex.com/events/5607-the-ico-called-the-change-irresponsible-and-argued