The Federal Communications Commission imposed the fine late on Friday, saying Google had collected personal information without permission and had then deliberately not co-operated with the FCC’s investigation reports the Telegraph.
“Google refused to identify any employees or produce any emails. The company could not supply compliant declarations without identifying employees it preferred not to identify,” according to an FCC order dated April 13.
“Misconduct of this nature threatens to compromise the commission’s ability to effectively investigate possible violations of the Communications Act and the commission’s rules.”
Google said in a statement said it turned over information to the agency and challenged the finding that it was uncooperative.
“As the FCC notes in their report, we provided all the materials the regulators felt they needed to conclude their investigation and we were not found to have violated any laws,” the company said in a statement. “We disagree with the FCC’s characterisation of our co-operation in their investigation and will be filing a response.”
