Clearly this falls under do no evil don’t you agree?
‘Google Tracked iPhones, Bypassing Apple Browser Privacy Settings’:
Julia Angwin and Jennifer Valentino-DeVries for The Wall Street Journal:
To get around Safari’s default blocking, Google exploited a loophole in the browser’s privacy settings. While Safari does block most tracking, it makes an exception for websites with which a person interacts in some way—for instance, by filling out a form. So Google added coding to some of its ads that made Safari think that a person was submitting an invisible form to Google. Safari would then let Google install a cookie on the phone or computer.
Given all the privacy issues Apple has faced this week, with the address book issues, you have to think they are pissed about this one. This was a pretty self-serving and short-sighted move by Google.
Can’t wait to see how this one plays out.
∞ (Via The Brooks Review)