Google Israel hit with NIS 5.5b lawsuit over Buzz

Global search giant Google apologized to Internet users the world over on Monday for perceptions that it invaded their privacy with its new networking site Buzz.

Even though the company made a second round of tweaks on behalf of surfers, it was hit with a NIS 5.5 billion class-action motion in an Israeli court on the grounds of invasion of privacy.

Amal Jaraisy's lawsuit, if approved as a class action, is on behalf of Gmail users, who "woke up one morning and found that the details of the people with whom they have open or covert contact are exposed to the entire world," without their consent, she wrote.

Amal says she'd thought she was receiving reliable, confidential service from Google, only to discover her details on the Buzz network without her consent or knowledge.

Anybody could know with whom she confidentially chats or to whom she sends or receives mail, without her knowledge or permission, all of which is illegal conduct on the part of the company, she argues.