Privacy Group Files FTC Complaint Over Google Buzz

WASHINGTON — 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.

Since launching Google Buzz as part of Gmail a week ago, the search company has come under fire for automatically creating public circles of friends for users based on their most frequent Gmail contacts. Over the weekend, Google altered the service to merely suggest contacts for its users' social networks.

Despite the changes, EPIC argues that privacy violations remain because Google automatically signs up Gmail users for Buzz, rather than waiting for them to do so themselves, or "opt in" for the service. EPIC wants the FTC to require Google to make Buzz a "fully opt-in" service. It also wants the company barred from using Gmail address book contacts to compile social networking lists.

"This is a significant breach of consumers' expectations of privacy," EPIC Executive Director Marc Rotenberg said in a statement. "Google should not be allowed to push users' personal information into a social network they never requested."

But Google insists that it gives users control because, even though it adds a "Buzz" link to all Gmail accounts, users must click on the link and agree to activate the service. Google also gives users the option to disable Buzz.

In response to the EPIC complaint, Google said it has already made some changes to Buzz based on user feedback and has "more improvements in the works."

"We look forward to hearing more suggestions and will continue to improve the Buzz experience with user transparency and control top of mind," the company said.

Comments

[BoyInBOYCOTT]

07:53 PM on 02/17/2010

Google made a serious mistake not having G-Mail users have to opt in.
LGBT sites, women with restraining orders against ex's, and heteros who were cheating, all are NOT happy with all this becoming PUBLIC to the entire web.
Good thing Google earns billions, their legal department will be very very very busy.

[Kap Hop]

10:12 PM on 02/17/2010

I absolutely agree. One would have thought contacts in gmail are your own business...

[Vxx]

03:14 PM on 02/17/2010

Buzz simply ended up pissing everyone off I know who uses gmail in its release.

People are already pissed at Facebook. but at least it is SEPARATE from their email. No matter how Warm and Fuzzy the Google toolset is (words, docs, calendar, etc), the Buzz goof up should make people nervous about using any of the google cloud tools.

[coastalcarla]

02:53 PM on 02/17/2010

Considering Google had no problem working with the NSA, handing over any info they wanted about people that used their browser, this shouldn't suprise anyone.

[Peter Noble 2]

11:03 AM on 02/17/2010

So what makes Buzz so cool? The privacy issue with Google is an ongoing saga.
There's nothing compelling here except to collate data to sell to companies to spam my inbox....... if they think my gmail contacts give me Buzz, then sadly I am how you say Buzz with Apple, Microsoft, Cakewalk, Ableton and Adobe. I use gmail to store proof of purchase. Now and then for someone I have just met.

The privacy controls are still confusing but even if they were perfect why add Buzz to Facebook or Twitter? Why the need to post recipes and pointless messages in a bottle that merely say nothing more than hello: please say I exist?

Buzz is not needed. If so can anyone enlighten me?

[Gover]

12:47 PM on 02/17/2010

Facebook isn't needed either. Google didn't do this because they thought it was needed they thought they could do a better job.

If you don't think so don't use their free s*** you aren't paying for.

[LightShadow62]

10:31 AM on 02/17/2010

The 'Big Buzz' is only watching if you are stupid enough to sign up for yet another social networking sight.

[Ramon Nuez]

08:58 AM on 02/17/2010

I understand the privacy concerns especially when Google opted to auto-enroll your Gmail contacts into Buzz and then make that information public. It's been a week since Buzz has been released and Google has changed that option. Additionally, Buzz continues to improve upon the various privacy concerns. I don't think anyone can argue that point.

I believe that the privacy issue is rather small comparison to the other social networks and the benefits that Buzz brings to the social networking ecosystem. I think that it's very premature for governments to step in. Google is using open standards and they are not hiding much. "Privacy advocates" are being a bit hyper-sensitive and just need to give Google some time to resolve these privacy concerns.

[Peter Noble 2]

11:05 AM on 02/17/2010

Ok... good points but I have Facebook... but why do I need Buzz?

[Ramon Nuez]

12:52 PM on 02/17/2010

Very good question and I can say with confidence that you don't need Google Buzz. It completely depends on your use case.

Currently, your posts are confined within the Buzz silo. Google Buzz, at least for the moment, is not a publishing platform that will post to the social networking ecosystem. I do know Google is working on making that happen.

[SpacelySpaceSprockets]

11:43 AM on 02/17/2010

Google, Apple, Facebook, Microsoft. None of these corporate giants really care about your privacy, in fact, it's the exact opposite. They want to sell all your personal info to the highest bidder and they do it whether you like it or not.

[beachsandshuffle]

08:39 AM on 02/17/2010

smart move is not to play

[DavidWyld]

08:04 AM on 02/17/2010

The buzz about the buzz is becoming buzz-worthy in our buzz media!

David