Google 'Sorry', Tweaks Buzz After Privacy Gaffe

Following an outpouring of ire concerning the privacy features—or lack thereof—of its new Buzz social networking client, Google issued an apology and announced it will soon add new settings. “We quickly realized that we didn't get everything quite right,” an exec writes on the search giant’s blog,” and “we’re very sorry for the concern we’ve caused.” This is the second major change to the new application.

At issue this time, PCWorld reports, was a feature called “auto-follow” that decided for you which other Buzz users would be connected to you based on email contacts. Now it will be called “auto-suggest,” and give users a chance to cull names before contact is established. Gee, thanks. In addition, users will be able to turn off Buzz completely, and hide their following info from their profile. (More Google Buzz stories.)