The PR firm in query was the US-based Burson-Marsteller, which was told to pitch the idea to news agencies that Google’s Social Circle feature was violating privacy.

Facebook and Google have been at loggerheads this week, with the news that Facebook hired a PR firm to look in to Google and its apparent violation of users’ privacy causing uproar.

Private parts

Facebook has released a statement with regards to the reasoning behind hiring the PR firm, telling Cnet that it was not trying to muster up a ‘smear campaign’ against Google but was trying to gauge the reaction of third parties when they found about Social Circles and the potential privacy issues of the service.

“Instead, they wanted third parties to confirm 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 â�� as Facebook did not approve of use or collection for this purpose.

“No ‘smear’ campaign was authorised or intended,” explained a Facebook spokesperson.

“The issues are serious and they ought to have introduced them in a serious and transparent way.”

“We engaged Burson-Marsteller to focus attention on this issue, using publicly obtainable information that could be independently verified by any media organisation or analyst.

The argument between Facebook and Google all stems from Google stopping Facebook from data-mining its Google Contacts information to put on its site. This, in turn, made Facebook come up with a workaround, which then prompted Google to write a narky statement when users used the workaround, reproaching Facebook’s lack of openness.

The new revelation that Facebook has been hiring a PR firm to look in to Google’s tactics has definitely left the social network in a poor light, but there is a positive feeling of ‘the pot calling the kettle black’ from both companies on the issue of privacy.

Android Honeycomb 3.0

Google has added another weapon to the Android 3.0 armory, by announcing that mapping service Google Earth is coming to Honeycomb tablets.

The new iteration of the app, which allows users to cruise around 197 million square miles of the planet, has been reworked for tablets like the Motorola Xoom.

The new update adds support for “fully textured 3D buildings” according to the announcement on the Google Mobile Blog.

Users can also “fly to their location” while adding easier access to search, Google Places and the Wikipedia entry for the location. (more…)

Korean Police Action

Google is a well known company and it rules the world of internet. No one is above law and anyone who violates the law will be taken to justice. One should take care of social norms and should not violate them.

There are certain laws made by which you cannot trace any person without his or her permission. Now days it is possible to locate any body but its unethical and one should not do this.

Admob a Google’s Sub Company got a raid by South Korean Police. It is said by police that Admob was violating the terms of privacy and locating people without their permission.

South Korean Police Officer Said: (more…)

Pakistan satellite broadband

Pakistan will have its first satellite based broadband operations by end of this year, as a satellite was launched on April 23 that requires three months for commissioning.

It has been learnt that under the agreement of Quantum Global Communications (QGC), Redtone with Yahsat of UAE, satellite broadband services will be offered in Pakistan for the very first time.

The brand name of the satellite-based broadband is YahClick and this would work in two scenarios that include urban and rural targets, while charges of Customer Premises (CP) would be around $700. In addition, the customer has to pay around $40 monthly for the service. (more…)