A leading privacy group has urged US regulators to investigate Google’s new social networking service Buzz, one week after its launch.The Electronic Privacy Information Centre (Epic) has made its complaint to the US Federal Trade Commission (FTC)It says that Buzz – which is part of Google’s Gmail service – is “deceptive” and breaks consumer protection law.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/8519314.stmAlso see:EPIC files privacy complaint against Google Buzz [IDG]
Despite the changes that Google has made to Buzz following negative reaction to the service, the Electronic Privacy Information Center has filed a complaint with the U.S. Federal Trade Commission charging the search giant with violating user privacy.EPIC on Tuesday asked the FTC to investigate Google and force it to change or stop offering several features of Buzz, Google’s social-networking service launched last week. It also asked for compensatory relief if the agency deems it appropriate.
http://www.networkworld.com/news/2010/021710-epic-files-privacy-complaint-against.html
http://www.pcworld.com/businesscenter/article/189532/epic_files_privacy_complaint_against_google_buzz.htmlPrivacy group files FTC complaint on Google Buzz [AP]
A privacy watchdog group complained to federal regulators on Tuesday about Google’s new Buzz social networking service, saying it violates federal consumer protection law.The Electronic Privacy Information Center filed its complaint with the Federal Trade Commission just days after Google Inc. altered the service to address mounting privacy concerns.
http://news.theage.com.au/breaking-news-technology/privacy-group-files-ftc-complaint-on-google-buzz-20100217-oa8v.html
http://news.smh.com.au/breaking-news-technology/privacy-group-files-ftc-complaint-on-google-buzz-20100217-oa8v.html
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/02/16/AR2010021604565.htmlEPIC Urges Federal Trade Commission to Investigate Google Buzz
EPIC has filed a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission, urging the FTC to open an investigation into Google Buzz. Last week, Google tried to transform its popular email service into an untested social networking service. As a consequence, Google displayed social networking lists based on a user’s most frequent address book contacts. The change was widely criticized. EPIC’s complaint cites clear harms to service subscribers, and alleges that the change in business practices “violated user expectations, diminished user privacy, contradicted Google’s privacy policy, and may have violated federal wiretap laws.” EPIC also noted that the FTC has failed to take action in another matter involving Google and Cloud Computing services.
http://epic.org/2010/02/epic-urges-federal-trade-commi.htmlFacebook hit with class action over privacy changes
A class action lawsuit has been filed against Facebook over changes that the social networking site made to its privacy settings last November and December.The lawsuit, filed in U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California, alleges that the modifications have in reality reduced privacy protections for Facebook users rather than increasing it, as the company had claimed it would.
http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9157758/Facebook_hit_with_class_action_over_privacy_changes
http://www.networkworld.com/news/2010/021710-facebook-hit-with-class-action.html