Privacy group complains about Google Buzz

WASHINGTON, Feb. 17 (UPI) -- The Electronic Privacy Information Center has filed a complaint with U.S. regulators about Google Buzz, Google's social networking application.

EPIC told the Federal Trade Commission that Buzz, which is attached to the Gmail program, makes private information public without users of the popular e-mail program giving their consent, The Washington Post reported.

"This change in business practices and service terms violated user privacy expectations, diminished user privacy, contradicted Google's own privacy policy, and may have also violated federal wiretap laws," EPIC wrote in its complaint, which was filed Tuesday.

Google, which introduced Buzz last week, has already tweaked it to try to reduce concerns about privacy. First, it said it would not automatically make follower lists public and then, on Saturday, that Gmail contacts would not automatically become Buzz followers and Gmail users could opt out of Buzz. The company also apologized to users for bundling Buzz with Gmail without their consent.

EPIC asked the FTC to consider penalizing Google for privacy violations. The group also urged the agency to order Google to convert Buzz to an opt-in service for which Gmail users would have.