Consumer Watchdog, another privacy monitor and frequent Google critic, said that “asking Google to educate consumers about privacy is like asking the fox to teach the chickens how to ensure the security of their coop.”

“It is committing to change its corporate culture to encourage sensitivity to issues of personal data privacy.” George Jepsen, the Connecticut attorney general who led the states’ investigation, said that he was hopeful the settlement would produce a new Google. “Well, 38 states just said they have a problem with the unauthorized collection of people’s data.” “If you use Google Glass to record a couple whispering to each other in Starbucks, have you violated their privacy?” he asked. The agreement paves the way for a major privacy battle over Google Glass, the heavily promoted wearable computer in the form of glasses, Mr. “But the states are throwing down a marker that they are watching and there is a line the company shouldn’t cross.” “Google puts innovation ahead of everything and resists asking permission,” said Scott Cleland, a consultant for Google’s competitors and a consumer watchdog whose blog maintains a close watch on Google’s privacy issues.

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