News Byte
Liz Gannes in News on September 10, 2013 at 4:19 pm PT
Google today lost an appeal of its long-running “Wi-Spy” case, in which its Street View cars slurped up data from open Wi-Fi networks. But even some people unaffiliated with the company — which was wrong, very wrong in the first place and has admitted as such — are unhappy with the ruling, as it judged open Wi-Fi networks not to be a “radio communication” or “readily accessible to the general public,” so therefore they fall under the U.S. Wiretap Act. Google had sought to dismiss wiretap claims as part of a broader class action suit, and a spokesperson said the company is considering its next steps.
Voices
Friedrich Geiger, Reporter, The Wall Street Journal in News on April 22, 2013 at 11:44 am PT
The commissioner for data protection of the German city of Hamburg said Monday he has fined Google Inc. for violating privacy law when collecting data for its Street View service.
Liz Gannes in News on March 12, 2013 at 10:22 am PT
Each state gets $192,000.
Liz Gannes in News on March 8, 2013 at 12:12 pm PT
Google will soon settle with the attorneys general representing more than 30 U.S. states over its Street View cars collecting data from unsecured Wi-Fi networks.
Liz Gannes in Mobile on October 2, 2012 at 6:10 pm PT
iOS users can now resume stalking addresses around the world from the comfort of their mobile devices.
Walt Mossberg in Personal Technology on October 2, 2012 at 6:03 pm PT
Apple has been taking heat for its replacement of Google Maps on the iPhone with a flawed maps app of its own. This flub has been a gift to Google, which has improved its already-solid maps app.
Liz Gannes in News on July 31, 2012 at 11:50 am PT
Expect a string of requests.
Liz Gannes in News on July 27, 2012 at 9:27 am PT
Google today admitted it had found that it still has within its possession user data from around the world that had been captured by its Street View cars.
John Paczkowski in News on June 13, 2012 at 3:35 am PT
The U.K.’s Information Commissioner Office is no longer certain Google’s collection of personal data via its Street View cars is quite the simple mistake the company claims.