³ÉÈËÂÛ̳

Google sorry for private-video-sharing bug

  • Published
street seen through a phoneImage source, Getty Images

Google has apologised after finding a bug which meant some people's private videos were shared with others by mistake.

The bug affected Google Takeout, which enables Google Photo users to export the content of their accounts, for four days, between 21 and 25 November 2019.

Google said those who used it may have either received an incomplete archive, or some videos which were not theirs.

It declined to say how many accounts were involved.

However, a spokesman told the ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ it was "less than 0.01%" - or 100,000 - of Google Photo's one billion users.

The issue only affected video, not photos or any other data.

"We fixed the underlying issue and have conducted an in-depth analysis to help prevent this from ever happening again. We are very sorry this happened," the firm said in a statement.

In its notification to those affected, Google recommends deleting the data export and carrying it out again.

This Twitter post cannot be displayed in your browser. Please enable Javascript or try a different browser.
The ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ is not responsible for the content of external sites.
Skip twitter post by Jon Oberheide

Allow Twitter content?

This article contains content provided by Twitter. We ask for your permission before anything is loaded, as they may be using cookies and other technologies. You may want to read and before accepting. To view this content choose ‘accept and continue’.

The ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ is not responsible for the content of external sites.
End of twitter post by Jon Oberheide

"It is very worrying that other people may receive your private videos with all the implications for your privacy and possibly safety and those of others," commented Pat Walshe, managing director of Privacy Matters.