100+ Consumers Planning Action Against Google's Tracking Further International Cases to Follow

London (ots/PRNewswire) -

Over a hundred people have contacted the law firm that has
launched a landmark privacy case against Google, declaring their wish
to join the action in the English courts after the internet giant
circumvented the security settings on Apple's Safari browser which
allowed it to track online usage covertly.

Less than a week after it was launched in the UK, 106 people have
asked the law firm, Olswang, to bring a case on their behalf. Over
500 people have expressed their concern for Google's behaviour by
endorsing the Safari Users Against Google's Secret Tracking Facebook
page created to provide information to people affected. The Facebook
page can be found at
http://www.facebook.com/SafariUsersAgainstGooglesSecretTracking

So far, Google has made no comment about the legal action.

The claims centre around tracking cookies, which were secretly
installed by Google on the computers and mobile devices of people
using Apple's Safari internet browser.

The first claimant to issue a letter of claim against Google,
74-year-old Judith Vidal-Hall, said: "Google can no longer be unaware
of the strength of feeling about its secret tracking but continues to
refuse to explain its conduct to consumers. People are quite rightly
outraged that a global company is treating them in this way. We hope
anyone who used Safari and who was covertly targeted by tailored
advertising joins this action."

Through its Doubleclick adverts, Google designed a code to
circumvent privacy settings in order to deposit the cookies on
computers which allowed them to provide user-targeted advertising.
The claimants thought that cookies were being blocked on their
devices because of Safari's strict default privacy settings and
separate assurances being given by Google at the time. This was not
the case.

The practice was only stopped when an academic researcher noticed
Google's activity and published an expose in the United States.
Google was subsequently found to be in violation of an existing order
from the US Federal Trade Commission and was fined a record
$22.5million.

Olswang say that this action breached their clients' confidence
and privacy and are now seeking damages, disclosure and an apology
from the company.

Dan Tench, a Partner at Olswang, said: "The volume of requests to
take action against Google should be no surprise given its reach
within our society. Consumers tell us they are determined to hold
Google to account. Anyone who used the Safari browser between
September 2011 and February 2012 may have a claim."

The firm has also received requests from claimants in other
European jurisdictions asking whether similar claims can be brought
in other countries. For information on joining the claim, email
safaribreach@olswang.com

Media enquiries: Olswang Press Office on +44(0)20-7067-3046.

ots Originaltext: OLSWANG LLP
Im Internet recherchierbar: http://www.presseportal.de