Google Accused of Eavesdropping through Chrome

Santa Clara, CA: Google is being accused of Internet privacy and wire tap violations by secretly installing software that can listen in on conversations of people who are in front of a computer. Privacy campaigners and open source developers are claiming that Google' browser, Chromium, the open source basis for Google' Chrome, began remotely installing audio-snooping code that enables it to listen to users.

The Chromium browser was designed to support Chrome' new "OK, Google"hotword detection, that enables the computer to respond to voice commands. However, some users allege the software has been activated on computers without their permission.

According to a report on MSN.com, Google claims that it is not responsible because Chrome is not one of its products. Rather, it is distributed by Linux distribution Debian for downloading the non-open source component with Chromium automatically, rather than Google Chrome.

Google claims it is possible to opt out but that requires knowledge that a person needs to opt out, and according to one programmer, a hardware switch to disable a computer's built in microphone and camera.

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Last updated on Jun-24-15