Google ’s so-called circumvention of do - not - racetrack controls on Apple ’s Safari web internet browser could extend to grown fine from the U.S. Federal Trade Commission if the agency determines that Google has violated a privateness settlement the company concur to in March , according to privacy advocates .
Violations of a settlement with the FTC can conduct to mulct of $ 11,000 per incident . It ’s unclear how many time Google may have circumvented Safari ’s do - not - rails security ; the browser app ships with both iOS and Mac devices , and is available for PC users to download .
Google was “ implausibly stupid ” to slip tracking cookies into Safari , give that the company is under scrutiny by both the FTC and privacy advocates , said Justin Brookman , film director of consumer privacy at the Center for Democracy and Technology . “ I ’d be very surprised if there was not some eccentric of FTC action . ”
An FTC spokeswoman did n’t forthwith regress message seek comment on the privateness allegations .
On Friday , Stanford University graduate student Jonathan Mayerpublished informationabout Google and three other company that skirted Safari ’s do - not - track preferences . In response , Google relinquish a instruction noting that the work - around used legal computer code and that the companionship had not intended to invade exploiter privacy .
Even if Google installed tracking cookie unknowingly , that could guide to problems with the FTC , Bookman said . “ technical study - arounds to evade web browser privacy scene are unacceptable , ” he added .
Consumer Watchdog , a privacy pleader that has been vital of Google in the past , called on the FTC to investigate the company for unjust and deceptive commercial enterprise practices .
“ They have been lie about how masses can protect their privateness in their educational activity about how to prefer out of have targeted advertising , ” sound out John Simpson , the group ’s privacy project director . “ Consumer Watchdog has asked the FTC to pretend because this clearly violates Google ’s consent accord with the commission . ” The incident also render the need for the U.S. Congress to pass do - not - track legislation , Simpson added .
Google has had several run - ins with privacy issues in the past , with Street View cars snooping on Wi - Fi networks , and sharing personal information on its ill - fated Buzz social - networking servicing — which ensue inlast year ’s FTC closure .
“ In its rushing to cumulate more data on users to promote its marketing revenues , and fight off challenger from Facebook , Google has sideline the privacy implications , ” aver Jeffrey Chester , executive director of the Center for Digital Democracy , a privacy chemical group . “ There ’s a pattern in Google behaviour that reveal a society in hot pursuit of a user ’s data point . ”
Chester rejected Google ’s explanation that it was n’t collecting personal data from Safari user . “ They know very well that such behavioural targeting cookies are tie to unique individuals and reveal authoritative personal information , ” he said .
