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Google Says It Mistakenly Collected Wi-Fi Data While Mapping

Posted by timothy on from the just-accidentally-of-course dept.

Even if Google says there's nothing to worry about, newviewmedia.com writes, the company "said it would stop collecting Wi-Fi network data from its StreetView cars, after an internal investigation it conducted found it was accidentally collecting data about websites people were visiting over the hotspots. From the WSJ article: 'It's now clear that we have been mistakenly collecting samples of payload data from open [i.e. non-password-protected] Wi-Fi networks, even though we never used that data in any Google products.'"

4 of 215 comments (clear)

  1. Re:Meanwhile Skyhook makes no statement by kindbud · · Score: 3, Interesting

    What evidence do you have that Google was, other than Google's own statement?

    If Google made no statement, would you assume they were not capturing payload, like you assume Skyhook isn't?

    Double standard, dude.

    --
    Edith Keeler Must Die
  2. Re:Hey, by dougisfunny · · Score: 3, Interesting

    Well, this is more akin to a drunkenly passed out girl, who passed out on the front lawn, naked, being photographed by the camera's on the street view vehicle.

    --
    This is not the funny you're looking for.
  3. What are the legal ramifications for the people? by Tanman · · Score: 3, Interesting

    If the government subpoenas Google to see the nature of the data they 'accidentally' collected, can they hunt through the data for evidence of illegal activities by the individual users and then go after them? This seems like it would be a great way for The Man to have access to private data by circumventing unreasonable search protections. After all, they just happened to notice this data while checking to see what data Google had been stea, er, storing.

  4. Re:Hey, by khchung · · Score: 3, Interesting

    but an unencrypted network is an invitation for anyone to sniff your traffic passively.

    So you are OK if, in a restaurant, other patrons eavesdrop and record your conversations with your SO/close friend? It is ok to do so in a public restaurant, right?

    Would you also be OK for your neighbor to eavesdrop and record the noises coming out from your house, e.g. you arguing with your SO, or whatever noise coming out of the master bedroom at night? Even though they may need a sensitive microphone or a big parabolic dish to do so, from across the street to your house?

    After all, not talking in codes or installing noise absorbing wall in your house is an invitation for anyone to passively listen to your conversations, right? What do you expect if you are broadcasting your sound waves on the air in the clear out into public space? Right?

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    Oliver.