Consumer Group Files FTC Complaint Against Google
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From Google's privacy policy change to Google overriding browser default settings, the FTC is getting an earful from privacy groups and lawmakers.</p>
Privacy
Consumer Watchdog investigations and advocacy on data privacy, surveillance, AI, and your right to control your personal information.
White House Pushes for New Privacy Codes of Conduct
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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>
Privacy Brouhaha Reveals Google’s Split Personality
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When it comes to privacy, is the Googleplex speaking with one voice?<br />
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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 />
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How Google Gets Inside Browsers
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<strong>Search giant and others bypass privacy settings to keep track of our online habits</strong><br />
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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 />
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Google Bypassed Apple Privacy Settings: Researcher
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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 />
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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 />
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Google Hit With FTC Complaint, Says Circumventing Safari Privacy Features Accidental
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The Consumer Watchdog advocacy group today <a href="https://consumerwatchdog.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/resources_ltrleibowitz021712.pdf">asked the Federal Trade Commission</a> to investigate whether Google violated a previous privacy agreement with the FTC by tracking cookies in a way that circumvents default privacy settings in Apple's Safari browser.</p>
Google’s Tracking of Safari Users Could Lead to FTC Investigation
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<b>Google's alleged circumvention of do-not-track controls on Apple's Safari browser could lead to big fines from the U.S. Federal Trade Commission if the agency.</b></p>
Google’s Cookie Trick in Safari Stirs Debate
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Researchers have discovered that Google deliberately bypassed the privacy settings in Safari, the Web browser on the iPhone and other Apple devices, so it could customize Web ads. The crux of the story, <a href="http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970204880404577225380456599176.html">as reported</a> by The Wall Street Journal in an article that is stirring much discussion online: By exploiting a loophole in the Safari browser, Google was able to install “cookies” that could let it track browsing activity.</p>
Google Caught Tracking Apple Users
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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>
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Google says the tracking was inadvertent and the problem has been fixed.</p>
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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>