Google Settles Buzz Lawsuit With $8.5 Million Fund
Following a very, very rocky start for Google's latest social networking effort, Google Buzz, the Internet giant has settled a class action lawsuit related to the service. When Buzz launched earlier this year, Google found itself at the center of a media frenzy. The company decided it would forgo an opt-in process and share users' locations with each Google account holder in their address books by default. The decision turned out to be a PR nightmare — and now it carries a financial burden with it as well. As a result of a class action settlement, Google has agreed to put in place an $8.5 million fund dedicated to "promoting privacy education on the web," and it is now in the process of informing its users. Hit the break for the email Google is currently sending to all account holders.
Google rarely contacts Gmail users via email, but we are making anexception to let you know that we've reached a settlement in a lawsuitregarding Google Buzz (http://buzz.google.com), a service we launchedwithin Gmail in February of this year.Shortly after its launch, we heard from a number of people who wereconcerned about privacy. In addition, we were sued by a group of Buzz usersand recently reached a settlement in this case.The settlement acknowledges that we quickly changed the service to addressusers' concerns. In addition, Google has committed $8.5 million to anindependent fund, most of which will support organizations promotingprivacy education and policy on the web. We will also do more to educatepeople about privacy controls specific to Buzz. The more people know aboutprivacy online, the better their online experience will be.Just to be clear, this is not a settlement in which people who use Gmailcan file to receive compensation. Everyone in the U.S. who uses Gmail isincluded in the settlement, unless you personally decide to opt out beforeDecember 6, 2010. The Court will consider final approval of the agreementon January 31, 2011. This email is a summary of the settlement, and moredetailed information and instructions approved by the court, includinginstructions about how to opt out, object, or comment, are available athttp://www.BuzzClassAction.com.