(Mirrored from an article by Jaspreet Virk, at www.TheMoneyTimes.Com, on February 19, 2010)

Despite the changes being made by Google, there seems to be no end to the criticism against the Internet search giant. Now a student at Harvard Law School has filed a class action suit against the company for making personal information of the users public.

Harnessing its core Internet capabilities, Google Inc. launched `Buzz' a few days back to challenge Facebook, and Twitter and emerge as a big player in the social networking technology. But the Internet search giant's social media feature, at least till now, has failed to impress majority of the users.

Since its launch on Feb. 9, Google Buzz has been the hot topic, thoroughly being discussed, on various blogs and discussion forums.

Though there are a few who have appreciated the latest service by Google, majority have condemned it, citing privacy concerns.

LAWSUIT AGAINST GOOGLE

Now a student at Harvard Law School has filed a class action suit against the company for making personal information of the users public.

Law firms in San Francisco and Washington, D.C. have sued Google on behalf of Eva Hibnick.

The 24-year-old law student filed the law suit against the search giant after finding herself automatically opted to the new networking service, without consent.

Expressing her frustration, Hibnick said that some of the people Gmail has selected to follow her were the ones with whom she had not spoken to for months now. This way Buzz made her contact list publically available.

Hibnick was quoted by ABC News as saying, "I feel really deeply about this issue and that's why I decided to step forward."

In papers filed with federal district court in San Francisco, Hibnick alleges that by publically disclosing their personal contacts, Google has infringed federal laws, including Federal Electronic Communications Privacy Act and the Federal Computer Fraud and Abuse Act.

Hibnick has filed the lawsuit on behalf of all the Gmail users who have expressed reservation against Google Buzz service.

BACKLASH CONTINUES

Google has yet not commented on the suit but considering the widespread backlash, Google has made improvements to Buzz service, thus enabling users to hide their contact list and block unknown followers.

Despite the changes being inculcated by Google, there seems to be no end to the criticism being hurled at the Internet search giant.

Many users have taken to Google help forums, citing their complaints and frustration.

A user named cj12020804 complained, saying, "I am another gmail user who hates BUZZ and, even more so, hates that Google has forced me to use my time to figure out how to go back to being invisible. I like being invisible and I find myself now being contacted by people I worked very hard to get rid of. How does a simple, not techno user get opted-out of this thing? It is HORRIBLE!"

Another user named jeffbuzzkill stated, "I want a clear, concise, and official answer from Google. Opting all gmail users in is a clear violation of privacy; failing to provide a simple and complete opt out make it all the worse."

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