Google+ to shut down after security flaw
Tech giant opted not to inform users of data security breach in March
Google has announced it will shut down its ailing Google+ social network, following reports in the Wall Street Journal that the tech giant failed to inform hundreds of thousands of users of a potential data security breach in March this year.
The Journal says that Google opted not to go public with the news that it had inadvertently allowed app developers to access profile data from users that had not been marked as public “in part because of fears that doing so would draw regulatory scrutiny and cause reputational damage”.
The Washington Post reports that the decision-making process behind not disclosing the potential data breach included “briefing chief executive Sundar Pichai”, at a time when US lawmakers were scrutinising social media platforms over user data protection.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Hours after the Wall Street Journal report, Google posted a blog outlining that it has decided to shut down Google+ for consumers, saying it “has not achieved broad consumer or developer adoption, and has seen limited user interaction with apps”.
The Telegraph reports that it will take “10 months to completely close the service”, and that a “version for businesses will remain open”.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
Today's political cartoons - December 21, 2024
Cartoons Saturday's cartoons - losing it, pedal to the metal, and more
By The Week US Published
-
Three fun, festive activities to make the magic happen this Christmas Day
Inspire your children to help set the table, stage a pantomime and write thank-you letters this Christmas!
By The Week Junior Published
-
The best books of 2024 to give this Christmas
The Week Recommends From Percival Everett to Rachel Clarke these are the critics' favourite books from 2024
By The Week UK Published
-
'Mind-boggling': how big a breakthrough is Google's latest quantum computing success?
Today's Big Question Questions remain over when and how quantum computing can have real-world applications
By Sorcha Bradley, The Week UK Published
-
DOJ seeks breakup of Google, Chrome
Speed Read The Justice Department aims to force Google to sell off Chrome and make other changes to rectify its illegal search monopoly
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Google Maps gets an AI upgrade to compete with Apple
Under the Radar The Google-owned Waze, a navigation app, will be getting similar upgrades
By Justin Klawans, The Week US Published
-
Is ChatGPT's new search engine OpenAI's Google 'killer'?
Talking Point There's a new AI-backed search engine in town. But can it stand up to Google's decades-long hold on internet searches?
By Theara Coleman, The Week US Published
-
'Stunningly lifelike' AI podcasts are here
Under the Radar Users are amazed – and creators unnerved – by Google tool that generates human conversation from text in moments
By Abby Wilson Published
-
Will the Google antitrust ruling shake up the internet?
Today's Big Question And what does that mean for users?
By Joel Mathis, The Week US Published
-
Wall Street tumbles on poor tech results
Speed Read US markets had their worst day since 2022 as Tesla and AI stocks dropped
By Arion McNicoll, The Week UK Published
-
Why is the tech industry up in arms about Google's search algorithm leak?
Today's Big Question A leak of about 2,500 documents shed light on how Google's search engine operates, and not everyone is happy
By Justin Klawans, The Week US Published