Google Sneaked Tracking Files onto iPhones, Privacy Researcher Says

Los Angeles Times: Stanford graduate student Jonathan Mayer has published a report that claims Google circumvented iPhone privacy restrictions and tracked Safari users’ online activities. According to the report, Google found a way to trick the mobile browser into accepting cookies from advertisers.

Lawmakers have expressed concern that Google may have violated an earlier agreement with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) in which the company promised not to make “privacy misrepresentations.” In a letter to the agency, Reps. Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), Joe Barton (R-Texas) and Cliff Stearns (R-Fla.) wrote, “Google’s practices could have a wide sweeping impact because Safari is a major Web browser used by millions of Americans. We are interested in any actions the FTC has taken or plans to take to investigate whether Google has violated the terms of its consent agreement.”

If found guilty of violating its FTC agreement, Google faces fines of $16,000 per day per violation.