Consumer Watchdog Seeks To Weigh In On Google's Privacy Settlement

The advocacy group Consumer Watchdog is asking a federal judge for permission to weigh in against Google's plan to pay a $22.5 million fine to settle privacy charges with the Federal Trade Commission.

Consumer Watchdog argues that the deal in this case isn't appropriate because Google is denying liability. The nonprofit filed papers this week asking U.S. District Court Judge Susan Illston to allow it to submit a friend-of-the-court brief in the case. Consumer Watchdog -- which has long criticized the search giant -- also is asking Judge Illston to order the FTC and Google to more fully flesh out why they believe the settlement should move forward.