Microsoft: Google Is Bypassing Internet Explorer Privacy Settings, Too

Feb 20, 2012 at 3:29pm ET by Matt McGee

More trouble for Google today on the privacy front: Just days after revelations that Google is ignoring privacy settings on Apple's Safari web browser, Microsoft says Google is doing the same thing with Internet Explorer. Microsoft shares its findings in a blog post this morning: When the IE team heard that Google had bypassed user privacy settings on Safari, we asked ourselves a simple question: is Google circumventing the privacy preferences of Internet Explorer users too? We’ve discovered the answer is yes: Google is employing similar methods to get around the default privacy protecti [...]

No Surprise: Congress, Consumer & Privacy Groups Want Google To Explain Safari Privacy Snafu

Feb 17, 2012 at 2:55pm ET by Matt McGee

From the you-could-see-it-coming-a-mile-away department: U.S. lawmakers, privacy watchdogs and consumer protection groups want Google to explain why it's been bypassing user privacy settings on Apple's Safari web browser. The story surfaced late last night in the Wall Street Journal, and has spread quickly -- not surprisingly, considering the long-running discussion about Google and privacy and, more recently, the company's new privacy policy that's due to take effect on March 1st. US Congress Gets Involved Politico is reporting this morning that US lawmakers -- who've already been o [...]

Related Topics: Channel: Consumer | Google: Privacy | Legal: Privacy | Top News

Google Didn’t “Track” iPhones, But It Did Bypass Safari’s Privacy Settings

Feb 17, 2012 at 4:36am ET by Danny Sullivan

The Wall Street Journal is out with a story about how Google has been "bypassing the privacy settings of millions of people" who use Apple's Safari web browser, along with a headline about "Google's iPhone tracking." More accurately, Google's been bypassing Safari's default privacy settings that block certain types of cookies rather than overriding what people specifically set. But that still doesn't make the revelation less of a body blow to Google's reputation. By default, Safari doesn't accept "third-party cookies." The Wall Street Journal reveals that Google found a way around this. Goo [...]

Europeans, EPIC Bring More Scrutiny To Google Privacy Changes

Feb 3, 2012 at 10:28am ET by Greg Sterling

The controversy surrounding Google's privacy policy changes continues on both sides of the Atlantic. The European Commission wants to look more closely at Google's new, consolidated policy before it goes into effect on March 1, 2012. Meanwhile, back in the US, the Electronic Privacy Information Center has initiated a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request to obtain a copy of a privacy report Google filed pursuant to its settlement with the FTC over Google Buzz. EPIC believes that the new Google Privacy Policy may violate the terms of the Buzz Settlement. In its FOIA request EPIC says tha [...]

No, You Don’t Need To Fear The Google Privacy Changes: A Reality Check

Feb 2, 2012 at 1:37pm ET by Danny Sullivan

Less than a month to go before Google's new privacy policy changes happen. Microsoft is running an ad campaign encouraging switching to its services as safer or more private. The US Congress is still asking questions. Headlines have painted a worrisome picture. But Google's users seem largely unconcerned. That's no surprise. They probably shouldn't be. There's a big difference between a privacy policy that grants new rights and actually using those rights. That's what I tried to explain in my first article about Google's forthcoming changes. There are good reasons why the mess that Googl [...]

Google “Myth Busts” Microsoft’s Privacy Claims

Feb 1, 2012 at 2:46pm ET by Danny Sullivan

That didn't take long. Google has reacted to Microsoft's ad campaign that slams Google's forthcoming privacy policy changes with a mythbusting blog post. Here's a look at the myths Google says are out there, the facts it claims are true and my own fact checking of both Google and Microsoft. Short story? They both seem about the same on the privacy front. The Google post actually tackles a few allegations beyond those that Microsoft made today, but I'll focus on the Microsoft ones. Hard To Control Personal Information? Google wrote: Myth: Google’s Privacy Policy changes make it harder [...]

Microsoft Slams Google Privacy Changes With “Putting People First” Ad Campaign

Feb 1, 2012 at 5:00am ET by Danny Sullivan

Last September, Google CEO Larry Page warned Google's biggest threat was Google itself. His words are ringing true, as Google arch-nemesis Microsoft is seizing on Google's recent missteps to score some points through a newspaper ad campaign that pitches Microsoft's products as treating customers better than Google's do. The ads -- running in the Wall Street Journal, the New York Times and USA Today -- suggest that Google's forthcoming privacy policy changes are designed to put Google's interests over that of its customers. A related blog post also indirectly raises issues about Google's ne [...]

Google Tells Congress: Users Can Opt-Out Of New Privacy Policy By Not Logging In

Jan 31, 2012 at 3:03pm ET by Matt McGee

That was quick. Google has already replied to several questions from Congress about the new, combined privacy policy that the company announced a week ago today. But in its letter, Google may not be giving Congress a good enough answer on lawmakers' main question about users being able to opt-out. Members of the House Energy and Commerce Committee said last week that Google's announcement ...raises concerns about whether consumers can opt-out of this new data sharing system. Pablo Chavez, Google's director of public policy, begins his response to Congress by reframing the question: [...]

House Committee Has Privacy Questions For Google; Google Says Bring It On

Jan 26, 2012 at 6:40pm ET by Matt McGee

With the debate continuing after Google announced a sweeping new approach to its privacy policy on Tuesday, the company has issued a fairly terse statement that also confirms reports that Congress has questions about Google's changes. In a short blog post, Google Policy Manager Betsy Masiello says Google "look(s) forward" to answering questions from Congress. That's in response to, and confirmation of, an earlier Reuters report that the House Energy and Commerce Committee wants to talk to Google about its privacy policy. From the Reuters article: In a letter to Google Chief Executive Lar [...]

Related Topics: Channel: Industry | Google: Legal | Legal: Privacy | Top News

Poll: 66% Say They’ll Cancel Google Accounts Over Privacy Changes

Jan 25, 2012 at 3:35pm ET by Chris Sherman

Is Google facing an angry backlash of users canceling accounts in response to Google’s new terms of service & privacy policy? It will if respondents to a Washington Post poll are a reliable barometer. With more than 14,000 people responding, nearly two-thirds said they would cancel their Google account, with 15% saying no and just under 20% not sure. Look at other indicators of customer outrage, however, and the picture isn't so clear. For example, instructions on how to delete a Google account aren't appearing as a hot search on Google trends. Nor are they appearing as an auto-complet [...]

Google’s New Terms Of Service & Privacy Policy: Anything You Do May Be Used To Target You?

Jan 24, 2012 at 4:33pm ET by Danny Sullivan

It sounds like the Miranda warning so familiar to those who watch US cop shows: "Anything you can and do will be held against you in a court of law." On March 1, Google has a new privacy policy and terms of service that goes into effect. Anything you do on Google, under these new agreements, can and may be used to target you in a court of Google, so to speak. In many ways, this is Google growing up into the new portal it has become. Rather than people signing up for individual products, Gmail, YouTube and so on, they're now signing-up for Google -- or at least a single set of terms (in most [...]

Google Outspends Microsoft In DC Lobbying In 2011

Jan 23, 2012 at 4:51pm ET by Greg Sterling

According to a report in CNET, based on public filings with the US Senate Office of Public Records, Google spending on federal lobbying exceeded that of rival Microsoft in 2011. Google reportedly spent $9.7 million to Microsoft's $7.3 million in 2011. Some decry the increase in Google lobbying as hypocrisy because lobbying is inherently "evil" and Google pledged to "do no evil." In the scheme of things Google's $9.7 is still relatively modest. The top lobbying spender in 2011 was the truly evil US Chamber of Commerce at $46 million. Google isn't in the top 20. Here's the top 20 lobbying [...]

Google Gives OK To Pseudonyms, Nicknames On Google+

Jan 23, 2012 at 4:50pm ET by Matt McGee

As promised last fall, Google says it will soon begin allowing pseudonyms and alternate names on Google+. Google+ VP Bradley Horowitz announced the changes this afternoon, explaining two primary changes to the company's name policy: Google will begin "updating its policies and procedures" related to established pseudonyms (like Madonna). Google may flag a profile with a pseudonym, but the user will have an opportunity to provide evidence confirming that it's an established pseudonym. This may include press/media mentions of the pseudonym, official documents or even "proof of an establi [...]

EU Ready To Impose Tough Privacy Rules On Google, Facebook

Jan 23, 2012 at 11:25am ET by Greg Sterling

According to a report in Reuters, this week the EU will offer a sweeping set of new rules that would dramatically impact how internet companies can use personal data. There would also be new penalties available for data breaches and rules violations. The article, based on a draft of the rules, says the proposed regulations include the problematic "right to be forgotten," which became an issue last year for Google in Spain. The proposed rules will be released this week. However to take effect they still must be ratified by member states, which could take up to two years (or more). If enacted [...]

Related Topics: Channel: Industry | Facebook | Google: Legal | Legal: Privacy

Privacy Watchdog EPIC Asks Federal Trade Commission To Investigate Google

Jan 12, 2012 at 4:35pm ET by Chris Sherman

The Electronic Privacy Information Center has urged the FTC to investigate Google's recent integration of search results with personal data, such as photos, posts, and contact details, gathered from Google+ in Google Search results. These changes, Google Plus Your World, "raise concerns related to both competition and the implementation of the Commission’s consent order," EPIC said in a press release. Google faces both criticism and governmental inquires regarding "competition" issues (aka anti-trust concerns). At Search Engine Land, we've covered many of them, including Bing’s Travel [...]

Privacy Watchdog: FTC Needs To Look At Google’s “Search, Plus Your World”

Jan 11, 2012 at 3:52pm ET by Matt McGee

The Electronic Privacy Information Center (EPIC) may file a request asking the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to investigate antitrust and privacy concerns surrounding Google's latest update to its search results. As the LA Times reports, EPIC Executive Director Marc Rotenberg says his group will probably file a complaint with the FTC. "We believe this is something that the FTC needs to look at," Rotenberg tells the Times. "Google is an entrenched player trying to fight off its challenger Facebook by using its market dominance in a separate sector. I think that should trouble people." Go [...]

UK On Cookie Compliance: Website Owners “Must Try Harder”

Dec 15, 2011 at 8:12am ET by Daniel Waisberg

This week, the UK's Information Commissioner's Office (ICO), published the Guidance on the rules on use of cookies and similar technologies (link to pdf). The ICO is the UK's authority "set up to uphold information rights in the public interest, promoting openness by public bodies and data privacy for individuals." According to the document: The rules in this area are essentially designed to protect the privacy of internet users – even where the information being collected about them is not directly personally identifiable. The changes to the Directive in 2009 were prompted in part by co [...]

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