Facebook Involved In Google Smear Campaign Scandal
A smear campaign controversy has erupted after Facebook admitted hiring PR firm Burson-Marsteller to persuade the media to cover stories questioning Google's privacy policy.
The scandal emerged after US blogger Christopher Seghoian published emails that were sent to him by Burson-Marsteller, asking him to investigate the Google's Social Circles service because Facebook believes it collects data without people knowing or being able to opt out.
Meanwhile a Facebook spokeswoman has denied the accusation of wrongdoing by saying: "No 'smear' campaign was authorised or intended. Instead, we wanted third parties to verify that people did not approve of the collection and use of information from their accounts on Facebook and other services for inclusion in Google Social Circles, just as Facebook did not approve of use or collection for this purpose."
She added: "We engaged Burson-Marsteller to focus attention on this issue, using publicly available information that could be independently verified by any media organisation or analyst. The issues are serious and we should have presented them in a serious and transparent way."