A FINE FIX: The Federal Trade Commission is close to gaining the court approval needed to impose a record $22.5 million fine on Google. It's part of a settlement resolving allegations that Google Inc. duped Web surfers using the Safari browser so it could track online activities.

SLAP ON THE MOUSE?: U.S. District Judge Susan Illston told lawyers during a Friday hearing that she is leaning toward approving the settlement, despite the misgivings of a consumer rights group that maintains the punishment doesn't do enough to protect the public interest.

ALL A MISTAKE: Google is allowed to deny any liability.