Google Says It Mistakenly Collected Data on Web Usage

"Google Inc. said an internal investigation has discovered that the roving vans the company uses to create its online mapping services were mistakenly collecting data about websites people were visiting over wireless networks.

The Internet giant said it would stop collecting Wi-Fi data from its StreetView vans, which workers drive to capture street images and to locate Wi-Fi networks. The company said it would dispose of the data it had accidentally collected..." Full text: Google Says It Mistakenly Collected Data on Web Usage

"The company said on Friday that it is currently in touch with regulators in several countries, including the United States, Germany, France, Brazil and Hong Kong, about how to dispose of the data, which Google said it never used..."The bottom line is a lot of personal content is definitely available in open WiFi hotspots," said Steve Gibson, the president of Internet security services firm Gibson Research Corp." Google Inc said its fleet of cars responsible for photographing streets around the world have for several years accidentally collected personal information that consumers send over wireless networks." Whoops! Google says mistakenly got wireless data Re 13:17

Response to comment [from a Christian]:  "...[S]hady as all hell. Just watch, it's only a matter of time before Google gets slammed with an anti-trust lawsuit."

Politicians against lawyers. That is the American way. Pulling out of China seemed hopeful...for a moment anyway. Wonder who's running the show over there now?

Response to comment [from a Christian]: "...[H]ey, it was just an accident. The world is an imperfect place. Screws fall out, doors get stuck, Wi-Fi information data is intercepted, recorded, & logged, socks get lost, cars break down...."

These things happen.

Google Says It Mistakenly Collected Data on Web Usage