Google Avoids Fine Over Street View WiFi Snooping, Ordered To Delete Data 115
DW100 writes "Google has avoided a fine from the UK's data protection watchdog over its admission that it had failed to delete all Wi-Fi data from its Street View cars last year — but it must ensure it is deleted within 35 days or face a contempt of court action. 'Its investigation into Google reopened last year after further revelations about the data taken from wi-fi networks. During that inquiry, additional discs containing private data were found.Google had previously pledged to destroy all data it had collected, but admitted last year that it had "accidentally" retained the additional discs. ... [The ICO said], "The detriment caused to individuals by this breach fails to meet the level required to issue a monetary penalty."'"
Re:Interesting how many times Google gets away... (Score:4, Interesting)
Here are two other mighty convenient examples where Google made "innocent" mistakes by vacuuming more data to track users intrusively and show them ads. Not sure if they're evil or just incompetent.
Here's an example of them being *both* very competent and evil.
Removing borders and decreasing contrast between ads and results to get more clicks and more money from advertisers and users, especially older people who can't see contrast well. I am sure they employ professional psychologists with PhDs whose sole objective is to increase ad clicks by using A/B testing, even if they user didn't intend to click ads, they must be making billions off these "optimizations".
http://ppcblog.com/fbf0fa-now-you-see-it [ppcblog.com]
http://blumenthals.com/blog/2012/01/31/is-google-intentionally-trying-to-minimize-the-fact-that-these-are-ads/ [blumenthals.com]
Unlike Microsoft, they do have amazing PR though, with making lots of people believe the all the 'do no evil' BS, while slowly taking over the browser market by beating Mozilla to save money on ads.
Re:Detriment caused (Score:2, Interesting)
No, it's more like standing naked by your front window, then complaining because someone takes a picture from the street. Setting up minimal WiFi encryption on consumer wireless equipment has never been a task requiring a "capable expert."
Of course it is. You have to find how to get into the router, you have to know which encryption to choose, then you have to set up your computers in the same way. All that while avoiding the little snag that as soon as you turn on encryption, your WiFi connection to the router will fail, so if you make the slightest mistake you are stuffed. Unless you have a big box full of stuff including an Ethernet cable.
Re:So unfair (Score:2, Interesting)
Shhhhh... Googles competitors and their pet nutters are here in force, you might make them upset by pointing out that their neighbours kid has the ability to monitor their wifi permanently (instead of for a few seconds on a couple of random occasions).
Meanwhile, since I'm not american, that bunch or right-wing loons and sociopaths they laughingly call a Government is systematically and far, far, more comprehensively spying on everything I do.
Interesting to see the BBC arse-licking their cause by trying to deflect peoples anger from the worst offenders to the least.