[LINK] Google's WiFi bungle

[stephen at melbpc.org.au]

> You can't do this "inadvertantly". It's done on purpose *for* a purpose 


FTC, European Regulators May Investigate Google's WiFi Snooping

By: Clint Boulton 2010-05-18 (snip)
<http://www.eweek.com/c/a/Search-Engines/FTC-European-Regulators-May-
Investigate-Googles-WiFi-Snooping-325839/>

Google's accidental collection of citizens' WiFi data in countries all 
over the world may spur the Federal Trade Commission to open an inquiry 
into Google's admittance of data harvesting, while the German 
commissioner for data protection called for a "detailed probe" into the 
practice by Google. 

The Wall Street Journal said May 17 (paywall) the Federal Trade 
Commission will likely open an inquiry into Google's admittance of data 
harvesting. 

The Financial Times said Peter Schaar, the German commissioner for data 
protection, called for a "detailed probe" into the practice by Google. 

Google May 14 surprised even eternally suspicious privacy advocates with 
its frank admission that its Street View cars collected personal 
information from citizens' WiFi networks in the United States, Germany, 
Britain, Ireland, France, Brazil and Hong Kong in China.

The Street View problem, coming so soon after the privacy debacle 
triggered by the Google Buzz privacy service, may be all government 
regulators require to make the case that Google has violated consumer 
rights. 

Regulators could argue the Street View gaffe is proof that it lacks the 
necessary safeguards to preserve user privacy. Regulators could then 
sanction Google, imposing controls over how much data the company 
collects and how it is used.

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Cheers,
Stephen