Google admits to collecting private data during Street View sweeps

By on May 15, 2010 at 2:09 PM
Services May 15, 2010

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Google came clean on its blog yesterday and admitted to accidentally collecting personal data while canvassing positioning data during Street View sweeps. The potentially damaging revelation came after the data protection authority (DPA) in Hamburg, Germany requested Google’s Street view data due to privacy concerns. An internal review of the collected data revealed that the software Google was using to compile and map SSID’s was also recording a portion of the of data that was being transmitted from those same Wi-Fi routers.

For those that unaware of the practice, Google Street View and other companies that provide Wi-Fi-based Location based services will travel around cities and towns collecting publicly broadcast SSID information. These SSIDs are then stored in a database with their associated GPS co-ordinates. This SSID-GPS information is then used in Wi-Fi triangulation. To slightly assuage fears of a widespread privacy breach, Google confirmed that the flaw only recorded personal data from open, non-password protected WiFi routers. Regardless of the extent of the breach, this could potentially explode in the face of Google and other similar mapping companies that collect public information from personal Wi-Fi routers.

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  • roebling

    So, if I open my window, lean out and start yelling stuff, and somebody passing by hears me, they’re guilty. COOL!

  • Fanboy

    No no. It’s not a crime in any way to scan for available wireless networks. Once found, it’s not even a crime to scan for mac address information on those networks. It’s not even a crime if you inadvertently intercept any packets that travelled across that network as long as you didn’t illegally gain access to the person’s terminal (i.e. physical access to the person’s console). This is basically equivalent to me listening to the new cd you just bought from your radio from outside your apartment when you leave it blaring all day long. Sure, I didn’t pay for the CD but I am enjoying the service provided by it nonetheless. By leaving your network unprotected it can be argued that the implied intention was there for it to be used by anyone who has WiFi access and can discover the SSID. If this was not your intention, you would have protected your network as the manufacturer of your wireless router recommended. It is in no way a comparison to breaking into someone’s home or stealing someone’s information. The only way you can compare like that is if you left all your doors and windows open with a sign out front that said “all are welcome”

    • jason

      maybe so, but I think the difference would be if I recorded the cd being played from the apartment then storing the music for my personal use.

  • fr4nk1yn

    Interesting. Bad Google!
    I wonder what kind of data was recorded and how that came about.
    Maybe what ever process they used to wardrive while doing the street view automatically caught some stuff.

    But anyway seriously, who does secure their network?

    I don’t see this as potentially damaging besides to people who just love to complain.

    Gonna search my Wi-Fi SSID and see if I’m in Google (:

  • Mike

    If the German Computer Missuse act is anything like the UK law then Google could be in big trouble.

  • Luke

    That Google logo is sooo two weeks ago…

  • Michael

    Ryan, NO insurance company is going to cover a loss due to you being an idiot. There’s a reason things are able to be locked. If you don’t lock your items, don’t be surprised that people use them.
    Feel free to email a copy of your insurance paperwork that shows coverage for “Theft due to your dumb ass”

    Posted from BGR Mobile (iPhone).

  • user

    People give away their personal information willingly (email correspondence at a gmail address) and gps co-ordinates every time they open Google Maps.

    People use social networking sites and spill their guts about their private lives and those that they associate with to faceless corporations.

    I find it surprising that privacy advocates are concerned about this when so much of your activities and information are out there for all to see (and willingly) – seemingly without a care in the world.

    • http://ampcabinets.net r stephenson

      Google and Microsoft have been in wars for years about who can gather the most information about each individual in america, for years.
      Why doesn’t anyone complain about that?
      They have no right to anyone’s personal data, no matter how it is collected. Nor does anyone else. What I do, see, buy ,sell or trash, is of no concern to you or anyone else in this world, unless I am being submersive.

      But seeing as I was born in Texas, my family came from Wales, and I am as white as my eyes, along with serving for my country, I am still concidered a Terrorrist risk by my fellow Americans, who are themselves held in the same regard by our peers, as I am. I have to be searched just like I was an idiot bomber.
      I am fricking 60. If I was going to blow something up ,I would do it while I was young and could be a martyr or some stupid crap, not when I am old and don’t have that many years left. How many 60 ,.70 .80, ot even 90 year old freaking american old lady bombers?
      How stupid is that?

      Gathering our information is just as stupid and as assanine as thinking every american is a terrorist bomber.WHY do they even NEED it?
      And WHY would they WANT it?
      In other words WHY would they be gathering it in the FIRST place? Google…answer?….Microsoft…answer?
      If they let other have access to mY personal data,m then they are , in fact, selling MY information, without MY permision. I would be willing to bet the Supreme court would uphold the fact that I have control of MY personal data dna to whom it is sold, exchanged, etc.
      Unless, possibly law enfordcement. But certainly no personal or business concerm can sell trade, or otherwise convey anyone’s personal info, for gain. So WHY have it ?

      The fact that they were caught with their pants down, and their hands in OUR cookie jar(s), only let the cat out of the bag, in the light of day.

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