[LINK] Google breached privacy and resumes data gathering

[thoughtmaybe.com]

> .. and the repercussions are?

Nothing.



----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Adrian Chadd" <adrian at creative.net.au>
To: "Kim Holburn" <kim at holburn.net>
Cc: "Link list" <link at anu.edu.au>
Sent: Saturday, July 10, 2010 7:36 PM
Subject: Re: [LINK] Google breached privacy and resumes data gathering


> .. 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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