[LINK] Google breached privacy and resumes data gathering

[Adrian Chadd]

.. and the repercussions are?



adrian

On Sat, Jul 10, 2010, Kim Holburn wrote:
> http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2010/07/09/2949818.htm
> > Watchdog finds Google breached privacy
> > The Australian Privacy Commissioner has ruled that Google broke the  
> > law by collecting wi-fi data from Australian homes and businesses.
> >
> > Several countries' privacy watchdogs began probing US-based Google  
> > after it was revealed Street View vehicles were recording details of  
> > information being sent on unsecured wi-fi networks.
> >
> > Privacy Commissioner Karen Curtis said on the conclusion of her  
> > investigation she was satisfied Google's actions would have breached  
> > the Australian Privacy Act.
> >
> > In a media release, she said Google promised to provide her office  
> > with details if it intends to capture personal information in new  
> > Street View features.
> >
> > The company also promised to consult with the Privacy Commissioner  
> > when significant products are launched in Australia that may capture  
> > user data.
> >
> > "These steps will ensure Google's future products have privacy  
> > protections built in rather than bolted on," she said.
> >
> > "Collecting personal information in these circumstances is a very  
> > serious matter. Australians should reasonably expect that private  
> > communications remain private."
> >
> > Ms Curtis said that because other authorities and agencies may still  
> > be investigating Google, she did not want to comment in more detail.
> >
> > On the official Google Australia blog, the company's top engineering  
> > executive Alan Eustace maintained the data was collected by mistake,  
> > and was never used in any of its products or services.
> >
> > "As soon as we discovered our error, we announced that we would stop  
> > collecting all wi-fi data via our Street View vehicles and removed  
> > all wi-fi reception equipment from them," he said.
> >
> > "Maintaining people's trust is crucial to everything we do and we  
> > have to earn that trust every single day. We are acutely aware that  
> > we failed badly here."
> >
> 
> http://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/1297852/Google-to-resume-gathering-map-data-in-4-countries
> > Google to resume gathering map data in 4 countries
> 
> > After conversations with regulators, the Internet search company  
> > will start driving its cars in Ireland, Norway, South Africa and  
> > Sweden from next week, it said on its European Public Policy blog.
> >
> > The cars will no longer collect wi-fi information, but will continue  
> > to collect photos and 3D imagery.
> >
> > Google plans to add more countries in time, it said.
> >
> > In May, Google said the fleet of cars it used to take photos of  
> > streets around the world for a three-dimensional mapping service had  
> > collected personal information sent by consumers over wireless  
> > networks. The information could include email messages and passwords.
> >
> > After the discovery of the error, Google had stopped collecting wi- 
> > fi data and grounded its cars globally.
> >
> > The revelation led several countries around the world to launch  
> > probes on the company's data collection methods. Consumers and  
> > regulators are increasingly showing concern over the manner in which  
> > websites handle personal information.
> >
> 
> 
> 
> -- 
> Kim Holburn
> IT Network & Security Consultant
> T: +61 2 61402408  M: +61 404072753
> mailto:kim at holburn.net  aim://kimholburn
> skype://kholburn - PGP Public Key on request
> 
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