Since, Google has been violating people's online privacy choices, Consumer Watchdog said today the Internet giant was lying to users and called for the Federal Trade Commission to act. iPhone and iPad users were targeted.
"Google has clearly engaged in 'unfair and deceptive' practices," said John M. Simpson, Consumer Watchdog's Privacy Project director. "They have been lying about how people can protect their privacy in their instructions about how to opt out of receiving targeted advertising."
Google has been circumventing a privacy setting in Apple's Safari web browser. Like most web browsers, Safari provides the option not to receive third-party "cookies." Cookies are small bits of code placed on the browser and can be used by ad networks to track you as you surf the web. Blocking third-party cookies is supposed to prevent such tracking.
The Stanford study found that three other companies – Vibrant Media Inc., WPP PLC's Media Innovation Group LLC and Gannett Co.'s PointRoll Inc. -- were also circumventing the Safari privacy setting.
In a letter to FTC Chairman Jon Leibowitz, Consumer Watchdog's Simpson wrote that Google gave false advice to Safari users and was aware that they were wrong.
"Google's behavior is clearly "unfair and deceptive," but more than that, it violates the 'Buzz' Consent Decree, which you reached with Google after it violated users' privacy when it launched the Buzz social network.
Google falsely told Safari users that they could control the collection of data by ensuring that third-party cookies were blocked, when in fact Google was circumventing the preference and setting tracking cookies."