LAS VEGAS — Google will pay Nevada about $268,000 to settle claims that the company violated consumer privacy by placing unauthorized cookies on computers in 2011 and 2012.
The money is part of a $17 million agreement Google struck with 37 states and the District of Columbia.
Prosecutors say Google Inc. altered coding from its DoubleClick advertising platform to circumvent default privacy settings on certain Apple Safari browsers without consumers’ knowledge or consent. Altering the coding allowed Google to put DoubleClick cookies on Safari web browsers.
Google disabled the coding in February 2012 after the practice was widely reported.
The company also agreed Monday to improve the information it provides about cookies.
Google Inc. said the cookies collected no personal information and that it’s pleased to have reached the settlement.