Senior government officials from 10 countries are asking Google to increase privacy controls. In a letter to CEO Eric Schmidt, officials are asking the online giant to protect users as it introduces a growing number of products, the Guardian reported yesterday.

People around the world are "being forgotten," the letter states. "It is unacceptable to roll out a product that unilaterally renders personal information public, with the intention of repairing problems later as they arise," such as the situation that arose when Google Buzz was launched. "We call on you ... to incorporate fundamental privacy principles directly into the design of your new services."

The initiative was begun by Canadian privacy commissioner Jennifer Stoddart, and also includes leaders from France, Germany, Ireland, Israel, Italy, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Spain and the United Kingdom, together representing 375 million people, according to The National Business Review of New Zealand.

"The launch of Google Buzz was commercial experimentation on New Zealanders and other internet users, involving the release of significant personal information. We think people deserve better," Marie Shroff, New Zealand's privacy commissioner, told the NBR.

The letter "is the last warning to the online world," Jacob Khonstamm, chairman of the European Commission's Article 29 working party, told reporters, according to Bloomberg News.

Even though Google isn't the only online company to launch services that raise privacy concerns, as a leader, Google should set an example, officials said.

A Google spokesperson declined to comment on the letter to the Wall Street Journal, saying "we have discussed all these issues publicly many times before and have nothing to add to the letter."

Google announced yesterday it has launched a new Government Requests tool to give people information about the requests for user data and content removal it receives from government agencies around the world.