Google+ social network to be shut down after bug exposed data of lakhs

Google on Monday announced it was shutting down the consumer version of its online social network after fixing a bug exposing private data in as many as 500,000 accounts. 

The US internet giant said it will "sunset" Google+ social network for consumers, which failed to gain meaningful traction as a challenge to Facebook

A Google spokesperson cited "significant challenges in creating and maintaining a successful Google+ that meets consumers' expectations" along with "very low usage" as the reasons for the move.

News agency Reuters reported Google opted not to disclose the issue partly due to fears of regulatory scrutiny, citing unnamed sources and internal documents.

A software glitch in the social site gave outside developers potential access to private Google+ profile data between 2015 and March 2018, when internal investigators discovered and fixed the issue, The Wall Street Journal reported.

(With agency inputs)