Google responds to cookie hoarding claims

Google has hit back at allegations that it has been hoarding Safari users' personal data.

The search engine giant refuted the Wall Street Journal's assertion that it has been collecting information through the browser, claiming to have been "mischaracterised" by the publication.

Google was allegedly creating a loophole to bypass Safari's security settings and access user data, but the company has now insisted that it was conducting innocuous market research.

"We used known Safari functionality to provide features that signed-in Google users had enabled. It's important to stress that these advertising cookies do not collect personal information," said Rachel Whetstone, Google's senior vice president of communications and public policy.

"Unlike other major browsers, Apple's Safari browser blocks third-party cookies by default. However, Safari enables many web features for its users that rely on third parties and third-party cookies, such as 'Like' buttons."

She added: "Last year, we began using this functionality to enable features for signed-in Google users on Safari who had opted to see personalised ads and other content - such as the ability to '+1' things that interest them."

Whetstone went on to say that Google created a "temporary communication link" between Safari browsers and its servers, but has now begun to remove the advertising cookies.

Internet Explorer, Firefox and Chrome users were not affected, nor were Safari users who have opted out of Google's advertising programme using the Ads Preferences Manager.

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