Judge Approves FTCs $22.5 Million FTC Fine for Google

Back in August, Google and the FTC agreed on a settlement regarding claims that the search giant had bypassed Safari's security settings to track users. This week, a U.S. judge approved the settlement. The Associated Press writes that  U.S. District Judge Susan Illston approved the on Friday evening.

Back in February, the Wall Street Journal reported that Google and other ad networks were taking advantage of a certain exception within the Safari browser. You see, Apple's Safari is set to block third-party cookies by default, accepting cookies only from sites that a user visits or interacts with. The exception to this rule allows cookies if you interact with a form or advertisement in certain ways. The Journal reported that Google and other ad networks took advantage of this exception by using an invisible form and its +1 Google+ recommendation system. Essentially, Google allowed Safari users who had signed into Google+ to interact with DoubleClick ads using an embedded '+1' button. This would then send off an invisible form that would have Safari think the user had provided permission for cookies to be stored.

At the time, Google said it used the workaround to enable signed-in G+ users the ability to +1 content around the web but was unaware it inadvertently enabled the advertising cookies. However, the FTC worried that Google was violating a previous privacy agreement and launched an investigation into the issue. The FTC this week said that that Google's misrepresentations violated an October 2011 settlement that barred Google from misrepresenting the extent to which consumers can exercise control over the collection of their information.

The fine is the largest the FTC has ever dished out and though $22.5 million isn't exactly pocket change, it's not exactly going to hurt Google either. The AP cites Consumer Watchdog in reporting that Google earns $22.5 million every four hours. In fact, because of the number of people affected, Consumer Watchdog attorney Gary Reback said the search giant should be fined $3 billion for its actions. Despite Consumer Watchdog's disappointment with the fine, the FTC is happy with the settlement. The Commission feels the settlement "sufficiently protects consumers from ongoing harm without exposing them to additional risks." Google maintains it didn't bypass Safari's settings on purpose.

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  • xpeh
    Sounds like Safari is just insecure
    Reply
  • antilycus
    just change the host file to 127.0.0.1 ads,doubleclick.net
    Reply
  • djcreeble
    Sounds like Safari is just insecure

    This.
    Reply
  • drwho1
    I like to know what's the Judge's cut on this ridiculous fine.
    Reply
  • SneakySnake
    Only the tom's comments can make an article about how google purposely bypasses user privacy in order to snoop some info, and then gets caught for it, somehow a bad thing on apple.

    I guess if apple setup any sort of tweak to mislead google, then that would be google's fault
    Reply
  • bllue
    Should've been a $2.25 billion fine instead. Companies need to be reminded of their boundaries
    Reply
  • murzar
    'Don't be evil' Google.
    Reply
  • d31m05
    xpehSounds like Safari is just insecure
    Macfag's mimimimimi in 3, 2, 1...
    Reply
  • -Jackson
    Chump change.. As per usual.
    Nothing new to see here.
    Reply
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    Reply