Chrome and Google fans look at the Search Giant as one of the best companies out there. We love their services and working at Google is the whole world’s dream, but does the Search Giant have its faults? Of course (like everything), and right now it’s about to pay $17 million for invading people’s privacy!
Google relies on advertising to stay alive. Even though Chrome is the most used browser in the world, they also want to benefit the most they can from other browsers. One way to benefit the most out of ad revenue is by using cookies, a tool that is used to record people’s browsing habits and target ads better.
Apple’s Safari browser doesn’t allow for this, but Google was accused of bypassing the browser’s privacy settings and leaving cookies in the browser anyways. Google claims this was not done on purpose and has fixed the issue by removing ad cookies from Safari users’ browsers.
As much as we love Google around here, this doesn’t look like much of a mistake. Cookies had to be altered in order for them to work with Safari, so chances of this being done “on accident” are slim to none.
Meanwhile, Google is stuck with a settlement equaling $17 million, going to a total of 37 states and the District of Columbia. But what do you guys think? Is Google wrong for doing this?
[Reuters]
