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Google's Streetview Privacy Snafu Prompts Lawsuit

Posted by timothy on from the bloodsucking-lawyers dept.

shmG writes "Google's secret data collection has prompted a class-action lawsuit that could force the company to pay up to $10,000 for each time it recorded data from unprotected hotspots, court documents show. The incident, which the company claims to have been unintentional, has prompted the ire of governments and privacy groups around the world. Google collected information that could be used to identify users, including 'the user's unique or chosen Wi-Fi network name, the unique number given to the user's hardware ... [and] data consisting of all or part of any documents, e-mails, video, audio, and VoIP information being sent over the network by the user,' the suit stated."

5 of 418 comments (clear)

  1. I think BSD acronym needs a change by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Flamebait

    Due to the ever dwindling usage of the BSDs and the ever increasing rabid foaming of the mouth of its users in response to this, I suggest we remake the BSD acronym from the Berkeley Software Distribution to the Butthurt Suckers Distribution. Anyone else in agreement?

    1. Re:I think BSD acronym needs a change by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Flamebait

      Your sister agrees that she sucks too much pimp dick.

  2. Re:OMG by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Flamebait

    almost as non-PC as the word "niggers"

  3. Re:That personal traffic was encrypted anyway.Righ by Rophuine · · Score: 0, Flamebait

    What else do you think they were collecting? The ... undata packets as well? Get off /. please.

  4. Re:Because of the money by DamienNightbane · · Score: 0, Flamebait

    It may be a bigger market, but the overhead is fifty times worse, and that's not even factoring in the huge difference in taxes.