Latest privacy news and analysis from NetworkWorld.com. Network World, Inc. Copyright(C) 1994 - 2012 Network World, Inc. http://www.networkworld.com/news/2012/020812-epic-sues-ftc-over-google39s-255911.html?source=nww_rss The Electronic Privacy Information Center has filed a lawsuit against the U.S. Federal Trade Commission, asking a court to force the agency to take action against Google over planned changes in the company's collection of personal data. Grant Gross 2012-02-08T05:28:18-04:00 http://www.networkworld.com/news/2012/020812-google-to-pay-users-to-255905.html?source=nww_rss Amid widespread concern about its new privacy policies, Google is now facing criticism over an offer to give users Amazon gift certificates if they open their Web movements to the company in a program called Screenwise. Cameron Scott 2012-02-08T04:41:58-04:00 http://www.networkworld.com/columnists/2012/020712-bradner.html?source=nww_rss In late January, the European Commission published a proposal "on the protection of individuals with regard to the processing of personal data and on the free movement of such data." Scott Bradner 2012-02-07T02:55:50-04:00 http://www.networkworld.com/news/2012/020712-ftc-warns-makers-of-background-255829.html?source=nww_rss The U.S. Federal Trade Commission has sent warning letters to the makers of six mobile apps used for background checks, saying the apps may violate a consumer credit protection law. Grant Gross 2012-02-07T02:39:50-04:00 http://www.networkworld.com/news/2012/020712-something-fishy-about-google-chromes-255830.html?source=nww_rss A research firm that measures the security effectiveness of browsers noticed something it thought might be fishy with the way Chrome was doing things. Turns out, there may currently be a privacy concern about Google's use of end user IP addresses as part of its Safe Browsing API. George V. Hulme 2012-02-07T02:36:12-04:00 http://www.networkworld.com/news/2012/020612-google-privacy-issues-let-microsoft-255765.html?source=nww_rss Microsoft is taking advantage of all the hullabaloo surrounding Google's privacy policy changes, by buying ads last week in major newspapers that called out how its products and practices are different than Google's and touting its Internet Explorer 9 and Bing products in company blogs. Christina Desmarais 2012-02-06T09:40:00-04:00 http://www.networkworld.com/news/2012/020312-microsoft-wraps-up-ads-aimed-255721.html?source=nww_rss Microsoft on Friday wrapped up a three-day campaign against rival Google by claiming its newest browser, Internet Explorer 9, is superior in stopping users from being tracked by online advertisers. Gregg Keizer 2012-02-03T04:06:25-04:00 http://www.networkworld.com/news/2012/020312-leaked-eu-memo-highlights-concerns-255700.html?source=nww_rss Digital rights groups in Europe have called for a ban on blanket data retention after a leaked internal memo from the European Commission admitted that there are significant problems with the current E.U. Data Retention Directive. Jennifer Baker 2012-02-03T11:06:53-04:00 http://www.networkworld.com/news/2012/020312-google-wont-delay-new-privacy-255696.html?source=nww_rss Google does not plan to delay its new privacy policy despite calls from Europe's data protection watchdog. Jennifer Baker 2012-02-03T09:14:18-04:00 http://www.networkworld.com/news/2012/020212-microsoft-anonymous-255667.html?source=nww_rss Data routinely gathered in Web logs - IP address, cookie ID, operating system, browser type, user-agent strings - can threaten online privacy because they can be used to identify the activity of individual machines, Microsoft researchers say. Tim Greene 2012-02-02T02:24:37-04:00