Google Inc., has agreed to implement a comprehensive privacy policy and undergo 20 years of independent audits as part of a settlement with the Federal Trade Commission in connection with charges that it used deceptive tactics and violated promises to customers when launching its Buzz social network last year.
The terms of the settlement, announced Wednesday, were among the toughest ever handed out by federal regulators in a privacy case. It was the first time the FTC has required a company to put in place a sweeping privacy policy to protect consumer data, the agency said.
“When companies make privacy pledges, they need to honor them,” said FTC Chairman Jon Leibowitz. “This is a tough settlement that ensures that Google will honor its commitments to consumers and build strong privacy protections into all of its operations.”
Full Story: Google to toughen privacy policy, undergo regular audits, in FTC settlement