Google Buzz Faces New Lawsuit In Canada

While Google has settled US lawsuits over its Google Buzz product, the company faces a new — and very similar — lawsuit originating in Canada.

The Winnipeg Free Press reports that Tyler Wereha of Rosa, Manitoba, is suing Google over privacy issues related to last year’s Google Buzz launch. The class-action lawsuit doesn’t specify damages. Based on what the Free Press is reporting, the lawsuit appears to be raising the same issues brought up in last year’s US cases:

The statement of claim, filed in Manitoba Court of Queen’s Bench last week, alleges anyone who has exchanged at least one email with a person could add that person to their Buzz “following” list and immediately see private information, including the user’s profile, Buzz posts and follower and followings lists.

Information available to everyone “following” the user could contain the user’s occupation, where they live and contact information.

The lawsuit asks the courts to put a permanent injunction on Google, preventing it from operating Buzz in “a deceptive and unfair manner whereby causing the unwanted disclosure of personal information.”

Google is currently waiting for final word on its proposed settlement of the US lawsuits. A fairness hearing is scheduled for January 31st. Details of that are available at BuzzClassAction.com.