[LINK] Google breached privacy and resumes data gathering

[Richard Chirgwin]

thoughtmaybe.com wrote:
>> .. and the repercussions are?
>>     
>
> Nothing.
>   
After all, it's not as if a government was behaving badly. It's Google, 
so we can all go back to sleep.
>
>
> ----- 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
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> _______________________________________________
>>> Link mailing list
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>>>       
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>>     
>
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