FRANCE is giving Google three months to be more upfront about the data it collects from users - or be fined.

The legal action accelerates a Europe-wide fight against Google over its use of personal data. While the fines threatened are small by the standards of one of the world's richest companies, the move puts new pressure on Google as it smarts from recent criticism over providing customer data to US government surveillance efforts.

The French agency that regulates information technology says that five other European countries are taking similar steps in a staggered offensive against Google's privacy policy between now and the end of July.

The French National Commission on Computing and Freedom, known as CNIL, says Spain has joined France in the first wave of legal action yesterday, and that Britain, Germany, Italy and the Netherlands will join in the coming weeks.

Paris' formal warning gives Google three months to make changes to its privacy practices, such as specifying to users what it is using personal data for. If not, Google risks a fine of up to 300,000 euros (US$396.300) by France, and millions of euros across all six countries. Google's revenues were US$14 billion in the first quarter of this year, much of that from advertising - which is boosted by the Internet giant's ability to target users based on what they read, watch and buy online.

Google said yesterday it believes its privacy practices respect European laws.

"We have engaged fully with the authorities involved throughout this process, and we'll continue to do so going forward," said Google spokesman Al Verney.