Google Buzz Continues Struggle with Data Privacy Infringement Case

Google gets another data management complaint from users after continually receiving issues involved with inadvertent data collection from its Street View cars, this time Google Buzz sits on the hot seat.



Tyler Wereha, a Manitoba resident, filed a class-action suit declaring Google Buzz, a Gmail application for geo-location and social media platform, as breaching privacy over sensitive data from emails with its Facebook account integration, showing too much information to many users.

Google Buzz infringes secrecy of confidential information for it involves all contacts, or “followers,” even without giving affirmation to do such activity, said Norman Rosenbaum, the plaintiff’s lawyer.

Google asserts that Google Buzz in Gmail accounts go through user discretion for activation/deactivation, whereas Rosenbaum claims that the search giant activates the service by design.

The main complaint is how the service allows a user to readily see sensitive information about another user, including address, contact details, contacts list, profile, posts, and work.

This lawsuit aims to cease permanently Google Buzz’s operation in a method that enables unintentional or unwanted disclosure of private information.

Manitoba laws impose over $5,000 fines for data privacy infringement damages to firms, said Rosenbaum.