Google Settles Lawsuit Over Buzz Privacy

Not everyone likes having private information exposed

Sep 3 2010, 6:28pm CDT | by Jordan Cressman

Google Settles Lawsuit Over Buzz Privacy

Remember when Google automatically enrolled you in its new Buzz social networking service and shared private information you never agreed to share? Well, the online giant has now settled a lawsuit over that very issue.

As part of the settlement, Google said it is going to update its privacy policy. Additionally, it will pay $8.5 million to cover lawyer fees and donations to online privacy organizations. No single individual will earn any money from the suit; it is purely a punitive action against Google.

When Buzz launched in February, it automatically enrolled everyone with a Google Account, sharing information like entire contact lists with every single person in users' accounts. The vast majority of these people had absolutely no idea that Google even launched its own social networking service, let alone that they were automatically enrolled and their contact list was exposed.

"We have always been committed to offering users transparency and choice in Buzz and all our products, and will continue to work together with users to provide the best user experience possible," said Google spokesperon Brian Richardson.

Google CEO Jerry Yang said new privacy guidelines would be put in place October 3. In response to the settlement, he wrote, "We want to make our policies more transparent and understandable."

Via PC Mag

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