Blumenthal pans FTC's reasons for dropping Google probe

Connecticut Attorney General Richard Blumenthal suggested in a statement Wednesday that the government's reasons for closing an investigation into Google were flawed.

Google admitted last week that it collected and saved Internet users' private e-mails and passwords as they were transmitted over Wi-Fi networks. The company says it did so inadvertently as the result of faulty software. To the alarm of privacy advocates, the Federal Trade Commission closed its investigation on the matter this week after Google promised to improve its privacy efforts.

Promises, according to Blumenthal, who is leading his own probe of the company, are not a reason to close the book on this. Blumenthal is the Democratic Senate contender in Connecticut. 

"Rather than rely on Google’s explanations and assurances, our multistate coalition, led by Connecticut, will work to confirm the facts about how this happened and how consumers will be protected going forward," he said.

He said his investigation will continue "until all the facts are verified."

Google last week for the first time confirmed the extent of the privacy breach, stating that it had collected and stored private e-mails and passwords. It says it did so inadvertently due to problematic software.

The admission, Blumenthal said, "only heightened our concerns about how and why this data was collected."

“Google’s story has changed during the course of our multistate investigation — demonstrating the need for sustained scrutiny.”