Google has removed any equipment used to collect WiFi data in its
Street View cars, which have resumed their tours of Sweden, Ireland,
Norway and South Africa at the approval of regulators.
Google July 8 said it has officially removed all hardware
and software used to corral WiFi data in its Street View cars, which
have
resumed their tours of Sweden,
Ireland, Norway
and South Africa.
Google grounded its entire fleet of Street View cars—which collect
real-life
footage of city streets in countries all over the world—in May when it discovered
the vehicles had grabbed 600 gigabytes of
e-mail and other data fragments from unsecured wireless networks.
The data storage, which began in 2007, stemmed from rogue code a
Google
programmer placed on the company’s servers.
This so-called WiSpy incident angered data privacy officials in some
33
countries. Germany
and Hong Kong demanded
to see the hard drives and the data collected on
them. Others such as Ireland
asked that Google simply delete the collected data.
Google, which ceased grabbing WiFi data entirely, moved to meet both
requests. The company also hired independent security expert Stroz
Friedberg,
which just approved a protocol to ensure any WiFi software is removed
from the
cars before they start driving again.
Moreover, Google said it will let loose its Street View cars again in
Ireland,
Norway, South
Africa and Sweden
next week after speaking to those countries’ regulators.
The Street View cars will continue to collect photos and 3D imagery,
which
the company claims helps improve the information it presents to
consumers on
Google Maps.
"We recognize that serious mistakes were made in the collection of
WiFi
payload data, and we have worked to quickly rectify them," wrote Brian
McClendon, vice president of engineering for Google Geo, in a blog
post.
"However we also believe that Street View is a great product for
users,
whether people want to find a hotel, check out a potential new home or
find a
restaurant."
The privacy snafu has erupted into an international issue, with
Connecticut
State Attorney General Richard Blumenthal vowing
June 21 to lead a multistate investigation into Google’s accidental
collection
of data from unsecure wireless networks.
Meanwhile, Consumer Watchdog said July 8 that Google’s WiSpy snooping
could
have sucked up and recorded communications from members of Congress.
The consumer advocacy group said Rep. Jane Harman, D-Calif., chair of
the
Intelligence Subcommittee of the Homeland Security Committee, has at
least one
wireless network in her Washington, D.C.,
home that could have been breached by Google.
The group is asking
Harman and 18 other members of the House Energy and
Commerce Committee for "immediate hearings" because their homes are
pictured on Street View, which suggests their WiFi networks were
scanned. The
group wants Google CEO Eric Schmidt to
testify under oath.
"This is the most massive example of wire tapping in American
history,
and even members of Congress do not appear to be immune,” said Jamie
Court, president of Consumer Watchdog.
"Whether it’s compromising government secrets or our personal
financial
information, Google’s unprecedented WiSpying threatens the security of
the
American people, and Congress owes Americans action."
