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Tag: Safari-gate

  • Google Pays $17 Million To States Over ‘Safari-Gate’

    Last year, Google was handed the largest fine for a single company in FTC history when it was penalized to the tune of $22.5 million in relation to the tracking of Safari users. Critics felt the fine didn’t go far enough, but a federal judge disagreed last November, ruling that the settlement was “fair, adequate and reasonable.”

    Google had been accused of placing cookies on Safari-users’ devices when they visited sites in the DoubleClick network back in 2011 and early 2012. Google maintained that it collected no personal data.

    Today, Google settled with 37 states and the District of Columbia for $17 million over what came to be known as “Safari-gate”.

    A Google spokesperson is quoted as saying, “We work hard to get privacy right at Google and have taken steps to remove the ad cookies, which collected no personal information, from Apple’s browsers. We’re pleased to have worked with the state attorneys general to reach this agreement.”

    New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman said, “Consumers should be able to know whether there are other eyes surfing the web with them. By tracking millions of people without their knowledge, Google violated not only their privacy, but also their trust. We must give consumers the reassurance that they can browse the Internet safely and securely. My office will continue to protect New Yorkers from any attempts to deliberately expose their personal data.”

    His state gets $899,580 of the $17 million.

    According to the AG, Google has agreed to the following:

    • Not deploy the type of code used in this case to override a browser’s cookie blocking settings without the consumer’s consent unless it is necessary to do so in order to detect, prevent or otherwise address fraud, security or technical issues.
    • Not misrepresent or omit material information to consumers about how they can use any particular Google product, service, or tool to directly manage how Google serves advertisements to their browsers.
    • Improve the information it gives consumers regarding cookies, their purpose, and how the cookies are managed by consumers using Google’s products or services and tools.
    • Maintain systems designed to ensure the expiration of the third-party cookies set on Safari Web browsers while their default settings had been circumvented.

    You can read the settlement here.

    Image: Google

  • Google Facing Legal Action In UK Over ‘Safari-Gate’

    Google continues to deal with the fallout from “Safari-gate” privacy scandal that led to a record fine (for a single company) from the U.S. Federal Trade Commission last August. The company was fined $22.5 million.

    Now, iPhone users in the UK are getting together to sue Google over the debacle. The Guardian reports:

    At least 10 British iPhone users have started legal proceedings and dozens more are being lined up, according to Dan Tench, the lawyer behind the action at the London-based firm Olswang.

    “This is the first time Google has been threatened with a group claim over privacy in the UK,” he said. “It is particularly concerning how Google circumvented security settings to snoop on its users. One of the things about Google is that it is so ubiquitous in our lives and if that’s its approach then it’s quite concerning.”

    There is a Facebook Group called “Safari Users Against Google’s Secret Tracking,” which has been set up by the law firm in connection with the users who are going after Google. In the “About” section, the description says:

    This group has been set up to provide information for anyone who used the Safari internet browser between September 2011 and February 2012, and who was illegally tracked by Google.

    Any users in the UK may have a claim against Google for this breach of their privacy. Other users, who have set up this group, are taking action against Google to hold them to account.

    …

    Members of this informal group have instructed the leading technology and media law firm, Olswang, to begin an action against Google.

    If you have concerns or want to join the action, contact us via this group and we will share your views or put you in touch with the legal team.

    It will be interesting to see how many users get on board with this, and what it ends up meaning for Google. A press release from Olswang has more on the case.

  • Consumer Watchdog Challenges Google’s FTC Settlement Over “Safari-gate”

    Consumer Watchdog announced today that it has won the right to oppose the recently announced $22.5 million Google settlement with the FTC. Despite the fact that this was the largest fine the FTC has ever given a single company, and that the FTC was gloating about the victory, Consumer Watchdog doe not think the settlement is adequate.

    “Google executives want to buy their way out of trouble with what for them is pocket change and then deny doing anything wrong,” said Consumer Watchdog Privacy Project director John M. Simpson. “Allowing this settlement undercuts the entire regulatory process. Companies and their executives must be held accountable when they violate legal agreements.”

    A judge has granted the group the right to oppose the settlement, and to file an amicus, or friend of the court, brief. The order granted on Tuesday, gave Google and the FTC a week to respond, and a hearing will be granted once the judge receives all the legal papers, if she deems them necessary.

    United States District Judge Susan Illston said in her order granting Consumer Watchdog’s motion, “Nonparty Consumer Watchdog has filed a motion for leave to file an amicus curiae brief in opposition to the proposed stipulated order of the parties. The Court GRANTS the request, and directs that the amicus brief be filed no later than September 21, 2012. The parties may file reply briefs by September 28, 2012. After review of the briefing, the Court will schedule a hearing if necessary.”

    “How can a settlement be in the public interest, when the guilty party gets to deny they did anything wrong?” Simpson asked.

    The group filed a complaint back in February about Google violating the “Buzz Consent Agreement” with the FTC, following the discovery of what came to be known as “Safari-gate”.