Social Network

Google Settles FTC Privacy Complaint

Over its Buzz service.

Google has settled a privacy complaint with the FTC after users of Google’s Gmail found that their private email contact information was made public when they used Buzz, Google’s social network platform. Google will not be fined for the slip-up, but the FTC will call for Google to build in privacy policies to protect consumer information, and also submit to random reviews in order to ensure that the privacy problem doesn’t resurface. The Electronic Privacy Information Center had filed a complaint on February 16 requesting that the FTC investigate the matter. “This is the most significant privacy decision by the commission to date,” said center chief Marc Rotenberg. “For Internet users, it should lead to higher privacy standards and better protection for personal data.”