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Lawmakers ask FTC to investigate Google over mobile Safari cookies

Following allegations that Google was “bypassing the privacy settings” of the iPhone’s Safari browser, three members of the U.S. House of Representatives want the FTC to look into whether Google’s actions violate a settlement agreement with the FTC stemming from “deceptive tactics” used during the launch of Google Buzz.

Lawmakers, including Joe Barton and Edward J. Markey, Co-chairman of the Congressional Bi-Partisan Privacy Caucus, and Chairman of Subcommittee on Oversight & Investigations Cliff Stearns sent a letter to FTC Chairman Jon Leibowitz on Friday (via ComputerWorld):

“As members of the Congressional Bi-Partisan Privacy Caucus, we are interested in any actions that FTC has taken or plans to take to investigate whether Google has violated the terms of its consent agreement.”

The settlement agreement reached in 2010 subsequently bars Google from “future privacy misrepresentations,” and it forced them to introduce a new comprehensive privacy policy (that Google is rolling out March 1) with regular privacy audits for two decades. The lawmakers are asking for a response from the FTC by March 9. We will keep you posted.

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Avatar for Jordan Kahn Jordan Kahn

Jordan writes about all things Apple as Senior Editor of 9to5Mac, & contributes to 9to5Google, 9to5Toys, & Electrek.co. He also co-authors 9to5Mac’s weekly Logic Pros series and makes music as one half of Toronto-based Makamachine.