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You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/2012/aug/09/google-record-fine-ftc-safari
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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
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| Google to pay record $22.5m fine to FTC over Safari tracking | Google to pay record $22.5m fine to FTC over Safari tracking |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Google is to pay a record $22.5m (£14.4m) fine to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) in the US after it tracked users of Apple's iPhone, iPad and Mac computers by circumventing privacy protections on the Safari web browser for several months at the end of 2011 and into 2012. | Google is to pay a record $22.5m (£14.4m) fine to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) in the US after it tracked users of Apple's iPhone, iPad and Mac computers by circumventing privacy protections on the Safari web browser for several months at the end of 2011 and into 2012. |
| The fine is the largest paid by one company to the FTC, which imposed a 20-year privacy order on Google in March 2010 after concerns about the launch of its ill-fated Buzz social network. | The fine is the largest paid by one company to the FTC, which imposed a 20-year privacy order on Google in March 2010 after concerns about the launch of its ill-fated Buzz social network. |
| In the latest case, commissioners ruled 4-1 that Google had breached that order not to mislead consumers about its privacy practices. There was no admission of wrongdoing on the part of Google. | In the latest case, commissioners ruled 4-1 that Google had breached that order not to mislead consumers about its privacy practices. There was no admission of wrongdoing on the part of Google. |
| Jon Leibowitz, chairman of the FTC, said in a statement: "The record setting penalty in this matter sends a clear message to all companies under an FTC privacy order. No matter how big or small, all companies must abide by FTC orders against them and keep their privacy promises to consumers, or they will end up paying many times what it would have cost to comply in the first place." | Jon Leibowitz, chairman of the FTC, said in a statement: "The record setting penalty in this matter sends a clear message to all companies under an FTC privacy order. No matter how big or small, all companies must abide by FTC orders against them and keep their privacy promises to consumers, or they will end up paying many times what it would have cost to comply in the first place." |
| The intrusion would have affected millions of users of Apple devices, which web statistics suggest are used for substantial amounts of mobile browsing in western countries particularly. | The intrusion would have affected millions of users of Apple devices, which web statistics suggest are used for substantial amounts of mobile browsing in western countries particularly. |
| The FTC began investigating the case six months ago after Jonathan Mayer, a researcher at Stanford University – once attended by Google's founders Larry Page and Sergey Brin – discovered that Google's DoubleClick advertising network was overriding safeguards built into Safari to stop cookies being used to track peoples' movements around the web. | The FTC began investigating the case six months ago after Jonathan Mayer, a researcher at Stanford University – once attended by Google's founders Larry Page and Sergey Brin – discovered that Google's DoubleClick advertising network was overriding safeguards built into Safari to stop cookies being used to track peoples' movements around the web. |
| Cookies can be used as unique identifiers of a user, so that if someone goes from one site to an unrelated one that also uses DoubleClick, the cookie will work as an identifier and mean that adverts on that site, and their activity there, will be logged and tailored to them. | Cookies can be used as unique identifiers of a user, so that if someone goes from one site to an unrelated one that also uses DoubleClick, the cookie will work as an identifier and mean that adverts on that site, and their activity there, will be logged and tailored to them. |
| Google's circumvention of the protection – a system it said was used by other companies – apparently contradicted its online help, which told Safari users they need not do anything to prevent Google monitoring their actions, because the browser's default settings would block Google's cookies. | Google's circumvention of the protection – a system it said was used by other companies – apparently contradicted its online help, which told Safari users they need not do anything to prevent Google monitoring their actions, because the browser's default settings would block Google's cookies. |
| The previous largest FTC fine, of almost $19m, was imposed on a US telemarketer accused of duping people into thinking they were giving to charity. | The previous largest FTC fine, of almost $19m, was imposed on a US telemarketer accused of duping people into thinking they were giving to charity. |
| While it has not admitted wrongdoing, the fine is another in a growing list for Google, which fell foul of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) earlier this year over its collection of Wi-Fi data from home and business networks via its Street View cars in 2008. The FCC fined it $50,000 for failing to cooperate with its investigation. | While it has not admitted wrongdoing, the fine is another in a growing list for Google, which fell foul of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) earlier this year over its collection of Wi-Fi data from home and business networks via its Street View cars in 2008. The FCC fined it $50,000 for failing to cooperate with its investigation. |
| The largest payment remains the $500m that it paid to settle a federal case in August 2011 after advertising Canadian-sourced pharmaceuticals to US users. The adverts appeared after being bought by vendors trying to sell pills to US users, who bought AdWords adverts alongside search results. The company escaped prosecution after settling. | The largest payment remains the $500m that it paid to settle a federal case in August 2011 after advertising Canadian-sourced pharmaceuticals to US users. The adverts appeared after being bought by vendors trying to sell pills to US users, who bought AdWords adverts alongside search results. The company escaped prosecution after settling. |
| In a statement, Google said: "We set the highest standards of privacy and security for our users. The FTC is focused on a 2009 help center page published more than two years before our consent decree, and a year before Apple changed its cookie-handling policy. We have now changed that page and taken steps to remove the ad cookies, which collected no personal information, from Apple's browsers." | In a statement, Google said: "We set the highest standards of privacy and security for our users. The FTC is focused on a 2009 help center page published more than two years before our consent decree, and a year before Apple changed its cookie-handling policy. We have now changed that page and taken steps to remove the ad cookies, which collected no personal information, from Apple's browsers." |
| The company is also under investigation in Europe and the US over whether it has used its dominant position in search to push other products, such as its shopping, video and maps products, ahead of rivals' which would have an equal claim to high ranking in search results. | The company is also under investigation in Europe and the US over whether it has used its dominant position in search to push other products, such as its shopping, video and maps products, ahead of rivals' which would have an equal claim to high ranking in search results. |
| The pressure group Big Brother Watch said: "It is a very dangerous precedent for companies to deliberately circumvent privacy protection and so we welcome this ruling as an important milestone in returning to consumers true control over their personal information. | The pressure group Big Brother Watch said: "It is a very dangerous precedent for companies to deliberately circumvent privacy protection and so we welcome this ruling as an important milestone in returning to consumers true control over their personal information. |
| "As we have often warned, where businesses rely on personal information to offer better targeted advertisements there will be inherent tension between respecting consumer privacy and pursuing profit." | "As we have often warned, where businesses rely on personal information to offer better targeted advertisements there will be inherent tension between respecting consumer privacy and pursuing profit." |
| Comments | Comments |
| 86 comments, displaying first | 86 comments, displaying first |
| 9 August 2012 6:08PM | 9 August 2012 6:08PM |
| hang on, Apple does wrong to its users and the FTC get 22.5 million? | hang on, Apple does wrong to its users and the FTC get 22.5 million? |
| Link to this comment: | Link to this comment: |
| 9 August 2012 6:21PM | 9 August 2012 6:21PM |
| For Apple, $22.5 million is not a fine in any meaningful sense of the word. | For Apple, $22.5 million is not a fine in any meaningful sense of the word. |
| Link to this comment: | Link to this comment: |
| 9 August 2012 6:21PM | 9 August 2012 6:21PM |
| hang on, Apple does wrong to its users and the FTC get 22.5 million? | hang on, Apple does wrong to its users and the FTC get 22.5 million? |
| No. Not even close. I reckon that article should take you about 90 seconds to read. Or, you could read the headline. Failing that you could just continue to make stuff up. | No. Not even close. I reckon that article should take you about 90 seconds to read. Or, you could read the headline. Failing that you could just continue to make stuff up. |
| Link to this comment: | Link to this comment: |
| 9 August 2012 6:35PM | 9 August 2012 6:35PM |
| A much harsher penalty would be to order them to shut down their search engine for a month. | A much harsher penalty would be to order them to shut down their search engine for a month. |
| Link to this comment: | Link to this comment: |
| 9 August 2012 6:47PM | 9 August 2012 6:47PM |
| Not a bad return; Google total revenues for 2011 were in the region of USD 38billion; | Not a bad return; Google total revenues for 2011 were in the region of USD 38billion; |
| Link to this comment: | Link to this comment: |
| 9 August 2012 6:57PM | 9 August 2012 6:57PM |
| I have an iphone, and I want my share of the loot. If I'm the one being spied on, why is the FCC pocketing the dough? | I have an iphone, and I want my share of the loot. If I'm the one being spied on, why is the FCC pocketing the dough? |
| Link to this comment: | Link to this comment: |
| 9 August 2012 6:59PM | 9 August 2012 6:59PM |
| hang on, Apple does wrong to its users | hang on, Apple does wrong to its users |
How the fuck did you come to that conclusion? | How the fuck did you come to that conclusion? |
| Link to this comment: | Link to this comment: |
| 9 August 2012 7:00PM | 9 August 2012 7:00PM |
| that ridiculously small fine is an incentive to do it again | that ridiculously small fine is an incentive to do it again |
| Link to this comment: | Link to this comment: |
| 9 August 2012 7:01PM | 9 August 2012 7:01PM |
| If you compare Google's turnover to mine ($38 billion compared with about $25000), then it's the equivalent of me being fined $14.80, or about £9.47. | If you compare Google's turnover to mine ($38 billion compared with about $25000), then it's the equivalent of me being fined $14.80, or about £9.47. |
| Link to this comment: | Link to this comment: |
| 9 August 2012 7:05PM | 9 August 2012 7:05PM |
| fine to FTC over Safari tracking | fine to FTC over Safari tracking |
Well, all I can say, I'm glad I've got a Google browser. | Well, all I can say, I'm glad I've got a Google browser. |
| So what's happening about all those derivatives, credit default swap, LIE-BOR, fraudulent criminal bankers and their friendly fuc-ing regulators? | So what's happening about all those derivatives, credit default swap, LIE-BOR, fraudulent criminal bankers and their friendly fuc-ing regulators? |
| When are these fuc-ing criminals going to jail? | When are these fuc-ing criminals going to jail? |
| Link to this comment: | Link to this comment: |
| 9 August 2012 7:16PM | 9 August 2012 7:16PM |
| Its nearly 4 times what they pay in tax in the UK :D | Its nearly 4 times what they pay in tax in the UK :D |
| Link to this comment: | Link to this comment: |
| 9 August 2012 7:24PM | 9 August 2012 7:24PM |
| Just part of the cyber war as the secret services us their corporate mates to collect everybody's data .Our own countries are collecting this data utilising nefarious means.http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/2012/aug/09/cyber-espionage-state-sponsored-lebanon In this other article they don't even mention which states are responsible for the cyber attacks(data mining activities).America and Israel have admitted to Stuxnet ,Flame and the article is implying are also responsible for the Gauss virus. These all had data mining functions although stuxnet was also an act of warfare against Iranian nuclear energy facilities.Which nations cyber warfare department was Google collecting for...... | Just part of the cyber war as the secret services us their corporate mates to collect everybody's data .Our own countries are collecting this data utilising nefarious means.http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/2012/aug/09/cyber-espionage-state-sponsored-lebanon In this other article they don't even mention which states are responsible for the cyber attacks(data mining activities).America and Israel have admitted to Stuxnet ,Flame and the article is implying are also responsible for the Gauss virus. These all had data mining functions although stuxnet was also an act of warfare against Iranian nuclear energy facilities.Which nations cyber warfare department was Google collecting for...... |
| The fine is negligible and also irrelevant what matters is who scooped this data up. P-tech software will allow many nations access to whatever they please | The fine is negligible and also irrelevant what matters is who scooped this data up. P-tech software will allow many nations access to whatever they please |
| Link to this comment: | Link to this comment: |
| 9 August 2012 7:25PM | 9 August 2012 7:25PM |
| Safari was a pain in the ass. I use Firefox, and even removed Apples' browser from my computer. | Safari was a pain in the ass. I use Firefox, and even removed Apples' browser from my computer. |
| Link to this comment: | Link to this comment: |
| 9 August 2012 7:34PM | 9 August 2012 7:34PM |
| hang on, Apple does wrong to its users and the FTC get 22.5 million? | hang on, Apple does wrong to its users and the FTC get 22.5 million? |
| I don't see Apple being mentioned as an offending party in the case at all - possibly you need some stronger glasses? | I don't see Apple being mentioned as an offending party in the case at all - possibly you need some stronger glasses? |
| Link to this comment: | Link to this comment: |
| 9 August 2012 7:37PM | 9 August 2012 7:37PM |
| zzzz zzzzz we've all been tracked by some one for years...... | zzzz zzzzz we've all been tracked by some one for years...... |
| Link to this comment: | Link to this comment: |
| 9 August 2012 7:52PM | 9 August 2012 7:52PM |
| Can we sue Google? | Can we sue Google? |
| Link to this comment: | Link to this comment: |
| 9 August 2012 8:11PM | 9 August 2012 8:11PM |
For Apple, $22.5 million is not a fine in any meaningful sense of the word. | For Apple, $22.5 million is not a fine in any meaningful sense of the word. |
| The headline reads: "Google to pay record $22.5m fine to FTC over Safari tracking" | The headline reads: "Google to pay record $22.5m fine to FTC over Safari tracking" |
| Can you read as well as write? | Can you read as well as write? |
| Link to this comment: | Link to this comment: |
| 9 August 2012 8:18PM | 9 August 2012 8:18PM |
| "The record setting penalty in this matter sends a clear message to all companies under an FTC privacy order." | "The record setting penalty in this matter sends a clear message to all companies under an FTC privacy order." |
| Pahlease, dont make me laugh. | Pahlease, dont make me laugh. |
| This fine is a drop in a very, very, large Olympic size swimming pool. If you want to stop this crap then stop slapping them on the wrist and start taking upwards of %50 revenue for the year of the violation. | This fine is a drop in a very, very, large Olympic size swimming pool. If you want to stop this crap then stop slapping them on the wrist and start taking upwards of %50 revenue for the year of the violation. |
| Google is starting to get really, really, cocky with all its transgressions and resembling Failbook with all their "accidents". | Google is starting to get really, really, cocky with all its transgressions and resembling Failbook with all their "accidents". |
| First we have the Google snoop mobile with their no we did not snoop response that turned into an admission of guilt and now this. | First we have the Google snoop mobile with their no we did not snoop response that turned into an admission of guilt and now this. |
| Link to this comment: | Link to this comment: |
| 9 August 2012 8:20PM | 9 August 2012 8:20PM |
| Regardless of the headline, the statement is still true though. | Regardless of the headline, the statement is still true though. |
| Link to this comment: | Link to this comment: |
| 9 August 2012 8:48PM | 9 August 2012 8:48PM |
| That would be 'what Google feel they want to pay by way of UK tax' ; the rest gets stashed in the usual tax havens. | That would be 'what Google feel they want to pay by way of UK tax' ; the rest gets stashed in the usual tax havens. |
| Link to this comment: | Link to this comment: |
| 9 August 2012 8:59PM | 9 August 2012 8:59PM |
| It's one of those unresolvable loops; Google is too important to America for any punishment to be anything more than a smack on the wrist. Apart from its vast financial prowess, its influence over all of America's competitors is without equal. It is a massive force multiplier as far as American influence is concerned. Another question is how did they breach Safari's security and who knew and for how long? | It's one of those unresolvable loops; Google is too important to America for any punishment to be anything more than a smack on the wrist. Apart from its vast financial prowess, its influence over all of America's competitors is without equal. It is a massive force multiplier as far as American influence is concerned. Another question is how did they breach Safari's security and who knew and for how long? |
| Link to this comment: | Link to this comment: |
| 9 August 2012 9:10PM | 9 August 2012 9:10PM |
| Completely idiotic. 22m is probably less than one minute of revenue and maybe 90 seconds of profit. Anyone who thinks anything put on the internet is private is truly delusional. Large transnational corporations do what they want anytime these stupid little fines are just a part of doing business. These corporations break laws and regulations purposely because they profit many times more that any fine. Of course, the Mafia has a business plan for deliberately breaking the law but that's different. | Completely idiotic. 22m is probably less than one minute of revenue and maybe 90 seconds of profit. Anyone who thinks anything put on the internet is private is truly delusional. Large transnational corporations do what they want anytime these stupid little fines are just a part of doing business. These corporations break laws and regulations purposely because they profit many times more that any fine. Of course, the Mafia has a business plan for deliberately breaking the law but that's different. |
| Link to this comment: | Link to this comment: |
| 9 August 2012 9:15PM | 9 August 2012 9:15PM |
| We have now changed that page and taken steps to remove the ad cookies, which collected no personal information, from Apple's browsers. | We have now changed that page and taken steps to remove the ad cookies, which collected no personal information, from Apple's browsers. |
| Wait, what about other browsers? | Wait, what about other browsers? |
| Link to this comment: | Link to this comment: |
| 9 August 2012 9:16PM | 9 August 2012 9:16PM |
| If you compare Google's turnover to mine ($38 billion compared with about $25000), then it's the equivalent of me being fined $14.80, or about £9.47. | If you compare Google's turnover to mine ($38 billion compared with about $25000), then it's the equivalent of me being fined $14.80, or about £9.47. |
| >ng | >ng |
| Agreed, the fine is generous. This will not discourage them the next time...the next ten years will be one long battle to bring companies like Google into line, to teach them to treat their users as something more than cattle. | Agreed, the fine is generous. This will not discourage them the next time...the next ten years will be one long battle to bring companies like Google into line, to teach them to treat their users as something more than cattle. |
| Link to this comment: | Link to this comment: |
| 9 August 2012 9:20PM | 9 August 2012 9:20PM |
| Google is too important to America for any punishment to be anything more than a smack on the wrist. Apart from its vast financial prowess, its influence over all of America's competitors is without equal. | Google is too important to America for any punishment to be anything more than a smack on the wrist. Apart from its vast financial prowess, its influence over all of America's competitors is without equal. |
| America is pretty f**ked then, isn't it? But then we have already known this for some time. | America is pretty f**ked then, isn't it? But then we have already known this for some time. |
| Link to this comment: | Link to this comment: |
| 9 August 2012 9:29PM | 9 August 2012 9:29PM |
| ...and meanwhile, on the other page, Google today announces it's offering Gmail users the (ahem) 'opportunity' to have their emails come up in their web-search results ? | ...and meanwhile, on the other page, Google today announces it's offering Gmail users the (ahem) 'opportunity' to have their emails come up in their web-search results ? |
| I wonder just how many cowrie shells they are going to be fined when a 'glitch' causes your emails to come up in everybody else's search results. It'll be like Wikileaks-for-all ! Without the redactions ! | I wonder just how many cowrie shells they are going to be fined when a 'glitch' causes your emails to come up in everybody else's search results. It'll be like Wikileaks-for-all ! Without the redactions ! |
| Link to this comment: | Link to this comment: |
| 9 August 2012 9:41PM | 9 August 2012 9:41PM |
| Any one Jailed, what happens in the UK, EU and the rest of the world for this criminal behaviour, if this was an ordinary person they would have been extradited to some Jail somewhere. | Any one Jailed, what happens in the UK, EU and the rest of the world for this criminal behaviour, if this was an ordinary person they would have been extradited to some Jail somewhere. |
| Link to this comment: | Link to this comment: |
| 9 August 2012 9:48PM | 9 August 2012 9:48PM |
| I have been lead to believe Google only paid £6million tax against £395million in profits, their main avoidance destination was Bermuda (source 38degrees). | I have been lead to believe Google only paid £6million tax against £395million in profits, their main avoidance destination was Bermuda (source 38degrees). |
| Below is the place you can go to sign a petition if you object to them paying so little tax when the country is in real trouble. | Below is the place you can go to sign a petition if you object to them paying so little tax when the country is in real trouble. |
| http:\\secure.38degrees.org.uk/google-tax | http:\\secure.38degrees.org.uk/google-tax |
| Link to this comment: | Link to this comment: |
| 9 August 2012 9:51PM | 9 August 2012 9:51PM |
| Just another US corporation doing what it wants, as American as motherhood and google pie, apparently. | Just another US corporation doing what it wants, as American as motherhood and google pie, apparently. |
| Link to this comment: | Link to this comment: |
| 9 August 2012 9:53PM | 9 August 2012 9:53PM |
| 22 million dollars? why even bother. you probably wasted THIRTY two million dollars investigating. The wolf is guarding the hen house door. | 22 million dollars? why even bother. you probably wasted THIRTY two million dollars investigating. The wolf is guarding the hen house door. |
| Link to this comment: | Link to this comment: |
| 9 August 2012 10:16PM | 9 August 2012 10:16PM |
| Google has the Sadim touch (Midas backwards). Everything it touches turns to shit. | Google has the Sadim touch (Midas backwards). Everything it touches turns to shit. |
| Link to this comment: | Link to this comment: |
| 9 August 2012 10:24PM | 9 August 2012 10:24PM |
| Google has the Sadim touch (Midas backwards). Everything it touches turns to shit. | Google has the Sadim touch (Midas backwards). Everything it touches turns to shit. |
| Oh I don't know, i wouldn't mind a share in its "bad luck". | Oh I don't know, i wouldn't mind a share in its "bad luck". |
| Link to this comment: | Link to this comment: |
| 9 August 2012 10:25PM | 9 August 2012 10:25PM |
| All is fair in divorce courts and corporate boardrooms. Who needs morals when you can do as you please with impunity? | All is fair in divorce courts and corporate boardrooms. Who needs morals when you can do as you please with impunity? |
| Link to this comment: | Link to this comment: |
| 9 August 2012 10:40PM | 9 August 2012 10:40PM |
| I have a suggestion for Google to replace their "do no evil" slogan. | I have a suggestion for Google to replace their "do no evil" slogan. |
| To be said in a fashion similar to George Bushes infamous fool me once speech. | To be said in a fashion similar to George Bushes infamous fool me once speech. |
| Hear no evil, See no evil, If nobody seen or heard the evil then it didn't happen. | Hear no evil, See no evil, If nobody seen or heard the evil then it didn't happen. |
| Link to this comment: | Link to this comment: |
| 9 August 2012 10:50PM | 9 August 2012 10:50PM |
| @modelportfolio | @modelportfolio |
| WHERE IS YOUR GOD NOW? | WHERE IS YOUR GOD NOW? |
| Link to this comment: | Link to this comment: |
| 9 August 2012 10:51PM | 9 August 2012 10:51PM |
| Microsoft: Software Company | Microsoft: Software Company |
| Apple: Hardware Company | Apple: Hardware Company |
| Google: Advertising Company | Google: Advertising Company |
| Link to this comment: | Link to this comment: |
| 9 August 2012 10:52PM | 9 August 2012 10:52PM |
| Google tracked users and got fined? | Google tracked users and got fined? |
| This page, on this site, at the time of writing tries to track me with the following cookies: | This page, on this site, at the time of writing tries to track me with the following cookies: |
| Google +1 Quantcast Omniture AudienceScience Google Adsense Forsee Results Real Media Revenue Science ChartBeat | Google +1 Quantcast Omniture AudienceScience Google Adsense Forsee Results Real Media Revenue Science ChartBeat |
| Everyone is watching what you do online and where you go online, unless you take steps to protect yourself. | Everyone is watching what you do online and where you go online, unless you take steps to protect yourself. |
| Link to this comment: | Link to this comment: |
| 9 August 2012 11:09PM | 9 August 2012 11:09PM |
| Haha! Rubbish! I did just the reverse! Safari is great! | Haha! Rubbish! I did just the reverse! Safari is great! |
| Link to this comment: | Link to this comment: |
| 9 August 2012 11:25PM | 9 August 2012 11:25PM |
| The bigger problem is EU and US regulators' harassment of Google -- even for what it does right. | The bigger problem is EU and US regulators' harassment of Google -- even for what it does right. |
| http://www.atlassociety.org/brc/blog/2012/08/09/ftc-extracts-fine-google-harassment-continues | http://www.atlassociety.org/brc/blog/2012/08/09/ftc-extracts-fine-google-harassment-continues |
| Link to this comment: | Link to this comment: |
| 9 August 2012 11:42PM | 9 August 2012 11:42PM |
| This comment was removed by a moderator because it didn't abide by our community standards. Replies may also be deleted. For more detail see our FAQs. | This comment was removed by a moderator because it didn't abide by our community standards. Replies may also be deleted. For more detail see our FAQs. |
| 9 August 2012 11:43PM | 9 August 2012 11:43PM |
| This comment was removed by a moderator because it didn't abide by our community standards. Replies may also be deleted. For more detail see our FAQs. | This comment was removed by a moderator because it didn't abide by our community standards. Replies may also be deleted. For more detail see our FAQs. |
| 9 August 2012 11:51PM | 9 August 2012 11:51PM |
| Not much of this is new news. We've known for a while that dirty tricks were central to the Google operation. | Not much of this is new news. We've known for a while that dirty tricks were central to the Google operation. |
| It's a useful reminder to boycott Google, which we can now do thanks to the likes of Bing and even Yahoo. We do have a choice and the choice doesn't have to be Google. | It's a useful reminder to boycott Google, which we can now do thanks to the likes of Bing and even Yahoo. We do have a choice and the choice doesn't have to be Google. |
| Link to this comment: | Link to this comment: |
| 9 August 2012 11:59PM | 9 August 2012 11:59PM |
| Don't be evil. | Don't be evil. |
| Link to this comment: | Link to this comment: |
| 10 August 2012 12:03AM | 10 August 2012 12:03AM |
| Corporate corruption, corporate malpractice, corporate exploitation, corporate greed, corporate money laundering, corporate theft.... the list goes on and on and on...daily. Clearly the modus operandi of the modern world is failing and yet the poor people, who have been mind-controlled into submission remain limp on action. We just have to admit that although what we see is clearly wrong, we haven't a clue how to fight it. We've been lulled into a false mind state of security and as much as we might shout and scream about what these people do, we remain powerless to fight them because we are, at the same time, utterly dependent on them. | Corporate corruption, corporate malpractice, corporate exploitation, corporate greed, corporate money laundering, corporate theft.... the list goes on and on and on...daily. Clearly the modus operandi of the modern world is failing and yet the poor people, who have been mind-controlled into submission remain limp on action. We just have to admit that although what we see is clearly wrong, we haven't a clue how to fight it. We've been lulled into a false mind state of security and as much as we might shout and scream about what these people do, we remain powerless to fight them because we are, at the same time, utterly dependent on them. |
| If these corporations were exposed for the truly demonic entities they are and fined / punished accordingly, it will be the people that suffer. Unless we find a way to disconnect, slowly but surely, in whatever way we need to, when the tower crumbles, those at the foot will be the first to die. | If these corporations were exposed for the truly demonic entities they are and fined / punished accordingly, it will be the people that suffer. Unless we find a way to disconnect, slowly but surely, in whatever way we need to, when the tower crumbles, those at the foot will be the first to die. |
| Such a dire state of affairs. | Such a dire state of affairs. |
| Link to this comment: | Link to this comment: |
| 10 August 2012 12:27AM | 10 August 2012 12:27AM |
| Adblock mate. | Adblock mate. |
| Link to this comment: | Link to this comment: |
| 10 August 2012 1:15AM | 10 August 2012 1:15AM |
| This comment was removed by a moderator because it didn't abide by our community standards. Replies may also be deleted. For more detail see our FAQs. | This comment was removed by a moderator because it didn't abide by our community standards. Replies may also be deleted. For more detail see our FAQs. |
| 10 August 2012 1:58AM | 10 August 2012 1:58AM |
| Chump change. | Chump change. |
| Link to this comment: | Link to this comment: |
| 10 August 2012 4:57AM | 10 August 2012 4:57AM |
| The pressure group Big Brother Watch said: "It is a very dangerous precedent for companies to deliberately circumvent privacy protection and so we welcome this ruling as an important milestone in returning to consumers true control over their personal information. | The pressure group Big Brother Watch said: "It is a very dangerous precedent for companies to deliberately circumvent privacy protection and so we welcome this ruling as an important milestone in returning to consumers true control over their personal information. |
Amen to that, but this is just the proverbial drop in the bucket of corporate/government privacy malfeasance that only seems to be growing more Orwellian by the day--indeed, by the moment. | Amen to that, but this is just the proverbial drop in the bucket of corporate/government privacy malfeasance that only seems to be growing more Orwellian by the day--indeed, by the moment. |
| Link to this comment: | Link to this comment: |
| 10 August 2012 7:21AM | 10 August 2012 7:21AM |
| ahem ... google. Sorry, asleep. | ahem ... google. Sorry, asleep. |
| Link to this comment: | Link to this comment: |
| 10 August 2012 8:28AM | 10 August 2012 8:28AM |
| Stop using Chrome unless you like your laptop grinding to a halt with all the advertsing google is dropping on everyone. | Stop using Chrome unless you like your laptop grinding to a halt with all the advertsing google is dropping on everyone. |
| Its getting to the stage where i am walking away from the internet because the major corporations are taking it over. | Its getting to the stage where i am walking away from the internet because the major corporations are taking it over. |
| Link to this comment: | Link to this comment: |
| Comments on this page are now closed. | Comments on this page are now closed. |
| Apple denies iPhone tracking claims | Apple denies iPhone tracking claims |
| 27 Apr 2011 | 27 Apr 2011 |
| Apple says it has never tracked the locations of iPhones and iPads, but admits a software fault means data is still sent to the company. By Charles Arthur | Apple says it has never tracked the locations of iPhones and iPads, but admits a software fault means data is still sent to the company. By Charles Arthur |
| 4 May 2011 | 4 May 2011 |
| Spotify launches Apple iTunes 'rival' | Spotify launches Apple iTunes 'rival' |
| 18 Oct 2012 | |
| iPhone 5 and iOS 6 users claim 'data use and bills rocket' | |
| 21 Apr 2011 | 21 Apr 2011 |
| Apple's iPhone rockets quarterly earnings by 95% to $6bn | Apple's iPhone rockets quarterly earnings by 95% to $6bn |
| 4 Jul 2010 | 4 Jul 2010 |
| Will the iPhone and iPad finally kill off the Mac? | Will the iPhone and iPad finally kill off the Mac? |
| Apple faces suit over app privacy leaks | Apple faces suit over app privacy leaks |
| 29 Dec 2010 | 29 Dec 2010 |
| Complaint accuses Apple and others of using apps to breach users' privacy, and says Google could also face action . By Charles Arthur | Complaint accuses Apple and others of using apps to breach users' privacy, and says Google could also face action . By Charles Arthur |
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| Internet giant tracked iPhone, iPad and Mac users by circumventing the privacy protections on Safari web browsers | Internet giant tracked iPhone, iPad and Mac users by circumventing the privacy protections on Safari web browsers |
| Google is to pay a record $22.5m (£14.4m) fine to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) in the US after it tracked users of Apple's iPhone, iPad and Mac computers by circumventing privacy protections on the Safari web browser for several months at the end of 2011 and into 2012. | Google is to pay a record $22.5m (£14.4m) fine to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) in the US after it tracked users of Apple's iPhone, iPad and Mac computers by circumventing privacy protections on the Safari web browser for several months at the end of 2011 and into 2012. |
| The fine is the largest paid by one company to the FTC, which imposed a 20-year privacy order on Google in March 2010 after concerns about the launch of its ill-fated Buzz social network. | The fine is the largest paid by one company to the FTC, which imposed a 20-year privacy order on Google in March 2010 after concerns about the launch of its ill-fated Buzz social network. |
| In the latest case, commissioners ruled 4-1 that Google had breached that order not to mislead consumers about its privacy practices. There was no admission of wrongdoing on the part of Google. | In the latest case, commissioners ruled 4-1 that Google had breached that order not to mislead consumers about its privacy practices. There was no admission of wrongdoing on the part of Google. |
| Jon Leibowitz, chairman of the FTC, said in a statement: "The record setting penalty in this matter sends a clear message to all companies under an FTC privacy order. No matter how big or small, all companies must abide by FTC orders against them and keep their privacy promises to consumers, or they will end up paying many times what it would have cost to comply in the first place." | Jon Leibowitz, chairman of the FTC, said in a statement: "The record setting penalty in this matter sends a clear message to all companies under an FTC privacy order. No matter how big or small, all companies must abide by FTC orders against them and keep their privacy promises to consumers, or they will end up paying many times what it would have cost to comply in the first place." |
| The intrusion would have affected millions of users of Apple devices, which web statistics suggest are used for substantial amounts of mobile browsing in western countries particularly. | The intrusion would have affected millions of users of Apple devices, which web statistics suggest are used for substantial amounts of mobile browsing in western countries particularly. |
| The FTC began investigating the case six months ago after Jonathan Mayer, a researcher at Stanford University – once attended by Google's founders Larry Page and Sergey Brin – discovered that Google's DoubleClick advertising network was overriding safeguards built into Safari to stop cookies being used to track peoples' movements around the web. | The FTC began investigating the case six months ago after Jonathan Mayer, a researcher at Stanford University – once attended by Google's founders Larry Page and Sergey Brin – discovered that Google's DoubleClick advertising network was overriding safeguards built into Safari to stop cookies being used to track peoples' movements around the web. |
| Cookies can be used as unique identifiers of a user, so that if someone goes from one site to an unrelated one that also uses DoubleClick, the cookie will work as an identifier and mean that adverts on that site, and their activity there, will be logged and tailored to them. | Cookies can be used as unique identifiers of a user, so that if someone goes from one site to an unrelated one that also uses DoubleClick, the cookie will work as an identifier and mean that adverts on that site, and their activity there, will be logged and tailored to them. |
| Google's circumvention of the protection – a system it said was used by other companies – apparently contradicted its online help, which told Safari users they need not do anything to prevent Google monitoring their actions, because the browser's default settings would block Google's cookies. | Google's circumvention of the protection – a system it said was used by other companies – apparently contradicted its online help, which told Safari users they need not do anything to prevent Google monitoring their actions, because the browser's default settings would block Google's cookies. |
| The previous largest FTC fine, of almost $19m, was imposed on a US telemarketer accused of duping people into thinking they were giving to charity. | The previous largest FTC fine, of almost $19m, was imposed on a US telemarketer accused of duping people into thinking they were giving to charity. |
| While it has not admitted wrongdoing, the fine is another in a growing list for Google, which fell foul of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) earlier this year over its collection of Wi-Fi data from home and business networks via its Street View cars in 2008. The FCC fined it $50,000 for failing to cooperate with its investigation. | While it has not admitted wrongdoing, the fine is another in a growing list for Google, which fell foul of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) earlier this year over its collection of Wi-Fi data from home and business networks via its Street View cars in 2008. The FCC fined it $50,000 for failing to cooperate with its investigation. |
| The largest payment remains the $500m that it paid to settle a federal case in August 2011 after advertising Canadian-sourced pharmaceuticals to US users. The adverts appeared after being bought by vendors trying to sell pills to US users, who bought AdWords adverts alongside search results. The company escaped prosecution after settling. | The largest payment remains the $500m that it paid to settle a federal case in August 2011 after advertising Canadian-sourced pharmaceuticals to US users. The adverts appeared after being bought by vendors trying to sell pills to US users, who bought AdWords adverts alongside search results. The company escaped prosecution after settling. |
| In a statement, Google said: "We set the highest standards of privacy and security for our users. The FTC is focused on a 2009 help center page published more than two years before our consent decree, and a year before Apple changed its cookie-handling policy. We have now changed that page and taken steps to remove the ad cookies, which collected no personal information, from Apple's browsers." | In a statement, Google said: "We set the highest standards of privacy and security for our users. The FTC is focused on a 2009 help center page published more than two years before our consent decree, and a year before Apple changed its cookie-handling policy. We have now changed that page and taken steps to remove the ad cookies, which collected no personal information, from Apple's browsers." |
| The company is also under investigation in Europe and the US over whether it has used its dominant position in search to push other products, such as its shopping, video and maps products, ahead of rivals' which would have an equal claim to high ranking in search results. | The company is also under investigation in Europe and the US over whether it has used its dominant position in search to push other products, such as its shopping, video and maps products, ahead of rivals' which would have an equal claim to high ranking in search results. |
| The pressure group Big Brother Watch said: "It is a very dangerous precedent for companies to deliberately circumvent privacy protection and so we welcome this ruling as an important milestone in returning to consumers true control over their personal information. | The pressure group Big Brother Watch said: "It is a very dangerous precedent for companies to deliberately circumvent privacy protection and so we welcome this ruling as an important milestone in returning to consumers true control over their personal information. |
| "As we have often warned, where businesses rely on personal information to offer better targeted advertisements there will be inherent tension between respecting consumer privacy and pursuing profit." | "As we have often warned, where businesses rely on personal information to offer better targeted advertisements there will be inherent tension between respecting consumer privacy and pursuing profit." |