Google agreed to pay a record $22.5 million fine on Thursday to settle a Federal Trade Commission complaint that it misled users of Apple’s Safari Internet browser about whether they would be tracked or targeted by behavioral ads. The alleged tracking took place over several months during the past year and violated the terms of an earlier privacy settlement with the FTC over the failed rollout of Google's Buzz social network. Under the terms of the settlement agreement, Google faces stiff financial penalties whenever it misrepresents its privacy practices to users. Privacy advocates hailed the announcement, which indicates the FTC is taking seriously its role as the government's watchdog of consumer privacy.

Quotable: “I commend the FTC for using its existing consent order against Google to hold the company accountable for misleading users of the Safari Internet browser about their online privacy. I will continue to push for common sense privacy legislation to give consumers the ability to choose what information companies collect about them and how they use it.  In the meantime, it is imperative that the FTC continues to make sure that individual companies abide by the promises they make about consumers’ privacy.  Without strong enforcement actions, companies have shown a preference for profits over consumer protection.” -- Senate Commerce chairman Jay Rockefeller, D-W.Va. White House Will Boost Cybersecurity On Its Own: Having failed to pressure Congress into passing cybersecurity legislation, the White House has signaled it will take steps to protect the nation's networks via executive order or other administrative action. The White House has indicated it will fold cybersecurity into the larger portfolio of issues that demand its attention despite Congressional inaction, including immigration. Experts have noted the White House does have fairly broad authority to boost cybersecurity requirements on both federal agencies and private companies, and could use its buying power to force industry-wide shifts in standards. But anything too onerous is likely to draw a fierce backlash from not only industry but also Congress, which won't take too kindly to being bypassed on a key national security issue that has suddenly come front and center. Democrats Want FCC to Update Radiation Standards for Mobile Phones: The top Democrats on the House Energy and Commerce Committee reacted this week to a GAO report (PDF) that concluded the FCC's current radiation testing and exposure requirements for cell phones are outdated and "may not reflect the latest evidence on effects." In response, Reps. Henry Waxman and Anna Eshoo of California, along with Edward Markey of Massachusetts, called on the FCC (PDF) to coordinate new research on how cell phones may affect the health of consumers. Markey has followed this issue for years, and other lawmakers have expressed concern about the effects of prolonged smartphone use on younger users. The FCC said last month it would conduct its routine review of the phone radiation standards, but officials there do not appear overly concerned about the issue.