Court allows challenge to FTC's $22.5M Google settlement

The Federal Trade Commission will have to defend in court why it's penalizing Google $22.5 million for a privacy violation while still allowing the company to deny any wrongdoing.

A federal judge granted Consumer Watchdog the ability to challenge the legal logic behind the FTC's settlement with Google over charges it misrepresented its tracking of Safari Web browser users. Google earned that fine because the FTC alleged its actions violated a 2011 privacy settlement over the company’s rollout of the now-defunct Buzz social network. That order also subjected the company to 20 years of regular privacy check-ups and other penalties. Neither the FTC nor Google contested Consumer Watchdog's court motion, which could result in a hearing. But the agency has vigorously defended its rationale, stressing that it can enforce settlements even without an admission of guilt.