The Privacy Buzz on Google's Social Networking Application?
Surprise is an understatement for the reaction to Google's roll out of its social networking application "Buzz." Many wondered what was Google thinking when it set up social networking connections within its Buzz application based on Gmail users' e-mail contacts. Google's social networking application bypassed the expected registration process for potential users by setting up accounts with a ready made list of contacts. Privacy advocates had for years focused on the non-privacy policies associated with the G-mail application that scanned e-mail content for key words for the disclosed purpose of serving ads. The Electronic Privacy Information Center filed a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission on the Google Buzz incident.
Anger Leads to Apology From Google About Buzz , Miguel Helft, New York Times, February 14, 2010
