The Latest in IT Security

By Alexei Oreskovic SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) – The agency that oversees development in the San Francisco Bay in California has begun a formal investigation into the construction of a secretive Google Inc barge on an island in the bay. The probe, which began in the past week, will examine what permits are needed to build the barge and whether the owners of the Treasure Island pier where the vessel is moored have the proper permits, said Larry Goldzband, the executive director of the San Francisco Bay Conservation and Development Commission. We want to make sure that the permits that are used by the owners of the pier actually allowed for construction to happen, Goldzband told Reuters on Wednesday, referring to what he described as a preliminary and formal enforcement investigation. Google officials informed Goldzband in a recent meeting that they are in the process of making changes to the barges design which have been requested by the U.S. Coast Guard. Jason Tama, a Coast Guard commander, said he could not comment on any specific cases, but noted that it was standard practice for the Coast Guard to inspect new construction to ensure that safety, security and environmental protection regulations are met.