According to the article, Google has done it in a way that indicates (according to the P3P protocol) "that the cookie will not be used for any tracking purpose or any purpose at all."
Basically they are abusing the standard to force P3P browsers to override the user's choice to block 3rd party cookies, by telling the browser that the cookie isn't intended for tracking, but Google is using it to track users.
That's kinda of appalling privacy-wise.
Maybe it isn't maliciously intended, which is what you mean, but it is an intentional misuse of a browser feature to force user tracking.
Basically they are abusing the standard to force P3P browsers to override the user's choice to block 3rd party cookies, by telling the browser that the cookie isn't intended for tracking, but Google is using it to track users.
That's kinda of appalling privacy-wise.
Maybe it isn't maliciously intended, which is what you mean, but it is an intentional misuse of a browser feature to force user tracking.