Google Fined in Privacy Case

The US Federal Communications Commission is seeking a $25,000 fine from Google for not cooperating with an investigation of the company’s collection of personal data from wireless networks.

For months, Google “impeded” and “delayed” the probe, which concerned email, text messages and other private material gathered in connection with the company’s Street View location service, according to an FCC filing dated April 13.

“We find Google apparently and willfully and repeatedly violated commission orders to produce certain information and documents,” the FCC said in the filing.

Google has come under scrutiny from regulators over how it handles data. Last year it agreed to settle claims with the Federal Trade Commission that it used deceptive tactics and violated its own privacy policies with the Buzz social network introduced in 2010.

The FTC settlement requires Google to undergo independent privacy audits for 20 years, as Bloomberg stated.

A Google spokeswoman didn’t immediately have a comment and an FCC spokesman didn’t immediately respond to an e-mail seeking comment yesterday.