Google to pay $17 million settlement

GOOGLE will pay $17 million to 37 states and the District of Columbia to settle claims it violated consumer privacy by placing unauthorised cookies on computers using certain Apple Safari web browsers in 2011 and 2012.

The New York Attoey General's office said Google Inc. altered coding from its Doubleclick advertising platform to circumvent default privacy settings on Safari without consumers' knowledge or consent. Altering the coding allowed Google to put Doubleclick cookies on Safari web browsers. Google disabled the coding in February 2012 after the practice was widely reported.

Google also agreed Monday to injunctive relief that requires it to take certain actions, including improving the information it provides about cookies.

Google Inc. said the cookies collected no personal information and that it's pleased to have reached the settlement.