Canada Cracking Down on Google Buzz

Author:

Jordan McCollum

Source:

Google Buzz has had one heck of a first week. After not fully testing the product, Google launched Buzz and forced all Gmail users into it without a way to opt out. Then we realized they were automatically sharing the list of people we chatted with and emailed most frequently. Finally, Google backed off many of these “features,” and made it possible to disable Buzz (and not just hide it). And the angry masses aren’t the only ones—now the Canadian government is scrutinizing the service.
 
Valerie Lawton, a spokeswoman for the [Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada], said the office is looking into concerns about Buzz.
 
“We understand the public concern about privacy issues related to Google Buzz,” she said. “Our office is looking at the issue.”
 
They may make further comment today. However, many of Buzz’s initial problems—specifically autosharing and autofollowing the people you chat with and email, making your friend lists public and no way to opt out—have been addressed through promised (and delivered) changes. So complaints filed with the commission last week may be moot by now—or not...