Google Could Be Fined More than $10 Million for Bypassing Apple’s Safari

In mid-February, the WSJ reported Google had allegedly breached the security of Apple’s Safari browser, by forcing users to accept cookies from third parties. Google is now negotiating with the U.S. Federal Trade Commission on how much of a fine it will have to pay, reports Bloomberg:

The fine could amount to more than $10 million dollars, said the person, who declined to be identified because the talks are confidential. The fine would be the first by the FTC for a violation of Internet privacy as the agency steps up enforcement of the Web.

The FTC is preparing to allege that Mountain View, California-based Google deceived consumers and violated terms of a consent decree signed with the commission last year when it planted so-called cookies on Safari, bypassing Apple software’s privacy settings, the person said.

Below is a graphic of how Google managed to bypass the privacy settings of Safari:

Ouch. Don’t be evil, right?

[via Bloomberg]