Google fined over Safari cookie privacy row

10 August 2012 10:09 am - 0 - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

A A A

Google has agreed to pay the largest fine ever imposed on a single company by the US Federal Trade Commission.

The firm agreed to pay $22.5m (£14.4m) after monitoring web surfers using Apple's Safari browser who had a "do not track" privacy setting selected.

Google does not have to admit wrongdoing as part of the settlement.

The penalty is for misrepresenting what it was doing and not for the methods it used to bypass Safari's tracker cookie settings.

Cookies are small text files that are installed onto a computer to allow it to be identified so that a user's web activity can be monitored.

"No matter how big or small, all companies must abide by FTC orders against them and keep their privacy promises to consumers, or they will end up paying many times what it would have cost to comply in the first place," FTC Chairman Jon Leibowitz said in a statement.
Loophole exploit

The government agency launched its inquiry after a Stanford University researcher noticed the issue while studying targeted advertising.

He revealed that the search giant was exploiting a loophole that let its cookies be installed via adverts on popular websites, even if users' browsers' preferences had been set to reject them.

This allowed the firm to track people's web-use habits even if they had not given it permission to do so.

Google said no "personal information" - such as names or credit card data - had been collected, and that the action had been inadvertent.
Social network workaround

Apple's browser automatically rejects tracking cookies by default. But Google got around this block by adding code to some of its adverts to make Safari think that the user had made an exception for its cookie if they interacted with the ad.

At the same time as using the exploit the search giant said on its help centre that Safari users did not need to take extra steps to prevent their online activities from being logged.

Google said the workaround had been employed to help it deploy its +1 button - letting users show their approval for something on the web - a feature it introduced for its Google+ social network.

"We set the highest standards of privacy and security for our users," said a spokesman.

"The FTC is focused on a 2009 help centre page published more than two years before our consent decree, and a year before Apple changed its cookie-handling policy.

"We have now changed that page and taken steps to remove the ad cookies, which collected no personal information, from Apple's browsers."

But Nick Pickles, director of privacy campaign group Big Brother Watch, said it was right that Google should be penalised.

"It's an essential part of a properly functioning market that consumers are in control of their personal information and are able to take steps to protect their privacy," he said.

"The size of the fine in this case should deter any company from seeking to exploit underhand means of tracking consumers. It is essential that anyone who seeks to over-ride consumer choices about sharing their data is held to account."

(Source : BBC)

Order Gifts and Flowers to Sri Lanka. See Kapruka's top selling online shopping categories such as Toys, Grocery, Kids Toys, Birthday Cakes, Fruits, Chocolates, Clothing and Electronics. Also see Kapruka's unique online services such as Money Remittence,Astrology, Courier/Delivery, Medicine Delivery and over 700 top brands. Also get products from Amazon & Ebay via Kapruka Gloabal Shop into Sri Lanka

Comments - 0

Add comment
Comments will be edited (grammar, spelling and slang) and authorized at the discretion of Daily Mirror online. The website also has the right not to publish selected comments.

Google fined over Safari cookie privacy row

Comments - 0

Add comment

RECOMMENDED

UDA owned land in Thalawathugoda; UDA Minister Prasanna Ranatunga under the spotlight for forceful occupation of reserved land

Loss-making SMIB faces political pressure in recovering loans

Baltimore Bridge Collapse: MV Dali, SL authorities anchored in mystery?

Has Sri Lanka become a potential hub for the illegal wildlife trade?

Spotlight on Moragahakanda Development Project Moragolla villagers lose livelihoods and down to one meal a day

Ambitious Sri Lankan jobseekers ‘trafficked into Ukraine war zones’

Western purple-faced langurs see blue!

Most Viewed in News

23 year old youth ends up having his testicles removed

Sri Lanka defaults on USD 6 billion payment despite rising reserves: Patali

No decision to declare April 15 as public holiday

Belgian traveller scammed in Kalutara

Train fails to halt, crashes onto Colombo Fort platform

Sri Lanka’s Rupee leads emerging markets in 1st quarter of 2024

MIRROR CRICKET

How does CSK get best out of Pathirana?

Mendis, Mathews move up in ICC Test Rankings

Chamodi, Dewmi spins Sri Lanka U19 Women to big win

Amir, Wasim return to Pakistan national team

TODAY'S HEADLINES

Ruwan calls on Kotte Sri Kalyani Mahanayake Thera

Effectiveness of Sri Lanka’s legal system is questioned over alleged corruption: Chief Delegate

Public inconvenienced due to lack of transport

Ex-soldiers joining Russian military as mercenaries, Sri Lanka seeks details

Mendis, Mathews move up in ICC Test Rankings

Security raised for Champions League ties after threat

SLA target four events at Paris Olympic Games

Chamodi, Dewmi spins Sri Lanka U19 Women to big win