WASHINGTON, D.C.—Chairman John D. (Jay) Rockefeller IV released this statement after the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) announced it reached a settlement with Google over the rollout of its Buzz social network:

“One of my top priorities is protecting consumers’ privacy and I appreciate that the Federal Trade Commission and its dedicated staff is taking this issue so seriously. As Chairman of the Commerce Committee, I will continue to take an aggressive stance to make sure consumers have adequate control over their personal information. Google was just plain wrong when it opted people into Buzz without their consent. This should be a wake-up call for online businesses—both large and small—of the need to be clear and honest about how the personal information of consumers is collected and used.”

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