Google's Streetview Privacy Snafu Prompts Lawsuit

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."

Comments

Google shouldn't worry

[ClosedSource]

If they lose the class-action suit they'll just have to pay the lawyers and give out discount coupons for Google search.

Re:Google shouldn't worry

[timmarhy]

ironically you just know the people who are most outraged about this will totally google for more information.

Re:Google shouldn't worry

[Anonymous Coward]

That's why I only use special tin foil made out of singularity grade compressed matter. Can't have any discarded photons flying around.

Re:Google shouldn't worry

[Hurricane78]

Actually, at least in Germany, it does not matter if you are a company or a private person: If you take a photo, record audio or video, and you record other people in the process, you have to first ask them, or you are committing a crime. (Yes, this includes the creepy guy.)

So if I have the drapes open and am jacking off in my living room, then when you “catch” me, you’re the pervert (peeping tom), and I can sue you for invading my privacy.
(Oh, well, I won’t go into details, but I think seeing it might be punishment enough. ^^)

Re:Google shouldn't worry

[icebike]

Google should sue the Grandmother. Its against the law in Germany to run an unsecured access point.

I'd plead entrapment.

What's the big deal

[microbee]

So they collected some data, and then admitted it was unintentional. Then the privacy groups scream like an orgasm?

How is it compared to, say, Microsoft "unintentionally" sent data by WGA?

Re:What's the big deal

[Anonymous Coward]

Then the privacy groups scream like an orgasm?

Perhaps you meant "scream like someone having an orgasm". Or perhaps, more fitting in the context of this story, "scream like someone who an orgasm is being had at the expense of"?

Quite possibly, but I suspect that if the police were to knock on some Google exec's door, they'd prefer it they came quietly. :-p

That personal traffic was encrypted anyway.Right?

[williamyf]

I mean, all those people were using WPA, WPA-2, or at the very least WEP.

What I am really curious about is if this comment will be modded funny, or some other thing....

Re:Exploitative Assholes

[MrLint]

is 'Linksys' unique or chosen? I can't decide.