Google has agreed to multiple commitments involving greater stakeholder consultation, transparency, and slower speed on its Privacy Sandbox project, according to a press release issued by the United Kingdom's Competition and Markets Authority (CMA). Privacy Sandbox is a 2019 project by Google that restricts the use of activity-tracking cookies and instead, offers alternative tracking mechanisms outlined in a set of proposals that Google has dubbed 'Privacy Sandbox'. Multiple marketers and publishers had criticised the move for being anti-competitive and a complaint was filed with the CMA, which led to an investigation into the matter in January 2021. After a round of public consultation, Google and CMA have agreed on new commitments that will be open for public consultation till December. Further, the company has said that if accepted by the CMA, these commitments would apply globally as well. What commitments has Google made? According to the press release, Google has offered to make the following commitments: CMA-approved trustee: Improve the provisions on reporting and compliance, including by appointing a CMA-approved monitoring trustee. Transparency in communications: Ensure that the CMA’s role and the ongoing CMA process are mentioned in Google’s key public announcements; instruct its staff not to make claims to customers which contradict the commitments; report regularly to the CMA on how Google has taken account of third party views; Address stakeholder concerns: Address concerns about Google removing functionality or information before the full Privacy Sandbox changes, including by delaying enforcement of its Privacy Budget proposal, and offering commitments around the introduction of…
