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You are here: News > News > Google breached the promise of privacy protection
| » IT Security NEWS |
| » 01 April 2010 |
| Google breached the promise of privacy protection |
Google is currently facing an issue with regards to its latest feature Buzz since it was deemed to have been violating one’s privacy. Buzz was released in the month of February but, not long after, the US regulators proceeded on doing an investigation regarding the said violation.
An obvious attack on privacy was witnessed
Google Buzz has an analogous feature with the micro-blogging service, Twitter, wherein online users can share real-time updates with others. But then, Google was flooded with complaints from Buzz users when they discovered that this social networking website created connections with the users’ Gmail accounts while their consent were not taken into consideration during the process.
The web giant advocated the scheme in which Gmail accounts are collected in order to create a list that users can follow. The problem comes in when Google broadcasted the accumulated users’ private information. Google remedied the said trouble by doing a slight nudge on their privacy settings and, in this way, they were able to control the personal information appearing on Buzz.
Appeal on close watch was presented
The predicament was not yet settled when 11 congressmen were found to have requested an investigation from the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). This is in line with how Google will modify its Gmail policy including its guidelines on user privacy.
According to a letter sent to Jon Leibowitz, the FTC chairman, it was evident that this new technology made everyone productive in a certain way. However, this also became a means for others to abuse privacy when it was witnessed that quite an amount of confidential data about the users and their relatives were disclosed.
In addition to this, a request was made for a thorough investigation regarding the web giant’s purpose for collecting the said information. It was speculated that this is aimed at making various data available for the online advertisers.
New earnings for a greater threat to privacy
There had been speculations that the web giant is planning to purchase the AdMob. And, it may possibly be used in gathering more private data from its users. Nevertheless, the letter appeals to the FTC that they should be stricter when it comes to Google’s acquirement of the AdMob.
The Commission is surely following the procedure of studying the web giant’s plan on gaining ownership over AdMob. But then, FTC must also take into consideration that this transaction may just influence the current competition. Also, it will just give more openings for Google to improve the privacy protection of their customers.
Actions are carried out only when violent feedbacks are heard
There had been loads of criticisms heard from Pamela Jones Harbour, the former commissioner of FTC. The ex-commissioner believed that the social networking services available today are crossing the boundaries when it comes to securing the privacy of their users.
The former commissioner deemed that web services release new features that can violate the privacy of their users. And, they will only do modifications on their privacy policies once they receive negative feedbacks from the consumers.
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