News - Google Street View investigated in multi-state US probe

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30 states to investigate how Google came to collect users' Wi-Fi data.

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Read more.

Maybe people will use the encryption facility that's built into all routers...

I fail to see what all the fuss is about? Blown out of proportion IMO.

If worst comes to worst, Google will just pull out of US.:)

I'm confused at why they haven't already deleted the 'sensitive' data, if it was collected accidentally. I'm also confused at what exactly they've done wrong, legally speaking. They're allowed to take photos of the streets because they're public places and anyone could do it. So.. why is it specifically a problem to ('accidentally') pick up 'sensitive' data that people are broadcasting into public places without encryption? If you gave your debit card to a friend to get some money out for you, then realised they didn't know your pin so shouted it to them down the street, it's hardly a crime to be passing by and hear that sensitive information. Unsecured Wifi is IMO the same principle; many devices will automatically try to connect to Wifi networks.

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Originally Posted by miniyazz

I'm confused at why they haven't already deleted the 'sensitive' data, if it was collected accidentally.

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Probably because if any of the US states decide to take action against the Googleplex then deleting the data from their activities is likely to cause phrases like "destruction of evidence" or "obstruction of justice" to be bruited about.

I like this bit "Google’s offered to delete the sensitive data. "

So if the robbers offer to the bank the stolen money back, that's all right then?

Google, like many very large companies, is getting a bit big for it's boots and perhaps it's time for a formal slapping down. It "accidentally" collected all this data, did it? And then accidentally stored it all as well? I wonder if the judge would accept that I accidentally pocketed all that cash when I accidentally wandered into a bank with a shotgun, when I thought I was out hunting rabbits, and accidentally stored it all in a big boxed I accidentally buried in a secret location.

You'd think that when they went to use their non sensitive data, they'd realise that "Rachel's Room" wasn't a wifi hotspot.