Privacy

Google and Facebook in White House Web Privacy Sights

February 23, 2012  ·  Mark Reback

<p> The White House has called on internet firms to develop stronger privacy protections for consumers.</p> <p> The move comes amid worries that browsing information is being tracked and given to advertisers.</p> <p> State attorneys in 36 states recently sent a letter of concern over Google's plan to share personal information across its products.</p> <p> As part of the announcement, the firms' ad networks said they would support a "Do Not Track" browser option.</p>

Consumer Group Files FTC Complaint Against Google

February 22, 2012  ·  Mark Reback

<p> From Google's privacy policy change to Google overriding browser default settings, the FTC is getting an earful from privacy groups and lawmakers.</p>

White House Pushes for New Privacy Codes of Conduct

February 22, 2012  ·  Mark Reback

<p> The U.S. White House will push for online businesses to adopt new privacy codes of conduct, including consumer rights to control what information websites collect about them and a right to see what data is being collected, officials there said.</p>

Lawmakers Target Google’s Tracking

February 18, 2012  ·  Mark Reback

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Google Bypassed Apple Privacy Settings: Researcher

February 18, 2012  ·  Mark Reback

<p> SAN FRANCISCO, CA -- Google was under fire Friday after it was revealed the Internet giant's ad-targeting "cookies" bypassed track-blocking software on Apple's web browser for iPhones and computers.<br /> <br /> Snippets of code called "cookies" from Google three online ad specialty firms slipped past tracker-blocking safeguards on Apple's Safari browser, Stanford University graduate student Jonathan Mayer said Friday in a blog post.<br /> <br />

Privacy Brouhaha Reveals Google’s Split Personality

February 18, 2012  ·  Mark Reback

<p> When it comes to privacy, is the Googleplex speaking with one voice?<br /> <br /> A new Google privacy controversy has revealed conflicting messages and actions between two different factions within the company: those working to protect consumer privacy on the one hand, and those seeking to improve advertising and social networking on the other.<br /> <br />

How Google Gets Inside Browsers

February 18, 2012  ·  Mark Reback

<p> <strong>Search giant and others bypass privacy settings to keep track of our online habits</strong><br /> <br /> Google and several other advertising companies are bypassing the privacy settings in Apple's Safari browser, according to a report from a Stanford University researcher that set off a heated debate on Friday.<br /> <br />

Google faces questions from Congress; session should be public

February 17, 2012  ·  John M. Simpson

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Google Caught Tracking Apple Users

February 17, 2012  ·  Mark Reback

<p> Google is on the defensive after <i>The Wall Street Journal</i> <b><a href="http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970204880404577225380456599176.html"><b>revealed</b></a> </b>the company has been tracking Apple Safari users in violation of the Web browser's privacy settings.</p> <p> Google says the tracking was inadvertent and the problem has been fixed.</p> <p> But Rep. Mary Bono Mack (R-Calif.), who was already scrutinizing Google over planned changes to its privacy policy, said she plans to bring company officials back to Washington for more questioning.</p>

Google Violated IPhone Users’ Privacy, Stanford Study Finds

February 17, 2012  ·  Mark Reback

<p> (Updates with more Google’s comments in 11th paragraph.)</p> <p class="indent"> Feb. 17 (Bloomberg) -- Google Inc. violated users’ privacy on Apple Inc.’s Safari Web browser, Stanford University research found, adding to a drumbeat of criticism from consumer groups over how the search giant tracks people online.</p>

Google Caught With Hand In Safari’s Cookie Jar

February 17, 2012  ·  Mark Reback

<p> Google is among a handful of companies that used a certain unusual characteristic of Apple's Safari Web browser to insert tracking cookies on users' machines, according to recent research from a Stanford grad student. The news has outraged consumer advocacy groups, though Google claims it was using known Safari functionality to provide features that signed in Google users had enabled.</p>

Google, Safari And The Wild Web At War

February 17, 2012  ·  Mark Reback

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