SHARE
Facebook X Pinterest WhatsApp

Google Updates Policy After Camera-Equipped Car Gaff

A Google exec concedes: “We work hard at Google to earn your trust, and we’re acutely aware that we failed badly here.” Kenneth Corbin reports. Google has announced a set of changes to its internal privacy controls in response to the revelations earlier this year that the search giant had inadvertently collected users’ Internet transmissions […]

Oct 25, 2010
Datamation content and product recommendations are editorially independent. We may make money when you click on links to our partners. Learn More

A Google exec concedes: “We work hard at Google to earn your trust, and we’re acutely aware that we failed badly here.” Kenneth Corbin reports.


Google has announced a set of changes to its internal privacy controls in response to the revelations earlier this year that the search giant had inadvertently collected users’ Internet transmissions over unsecured Wi-Fi networks.

That high-profile gaff, which resulted from a piece of experimental software that was included in the camera-equipped cars Google (NASDAQ: GOOG) dispatched to collect images for its Street View project, provoked a torrent of scrutiny and criticism, with regulators and privacy officials in nations around the world launching investigations.

The search giant also offered new revelations about the extent of the data its Street View vehicles collected, information that came out in the course of the international probes, seven of which Google said have been concluded.

Alan Eustace, Google’s senior vice president of product and engineering, said that most of the information that was collected was “fragmentary,” but that in some cases the Street View cars intercepted entire emails, passwords and URLs from unencrypted Wi-Fi networks, the investigations revealed.

Read the rest at eSecurity Planet.

  SEE ALL
ARTICLES
 
KC

Kenneth Corbin is a Datamation contributor.

Recommended for you...

AI in Cybersecurity: The Comprehensive Guide to Modern Security
Liz Ticong
Apr 29, 2024
What Is Cybersecurity? Definitions, Practices, Threats
Liz Ticong
Apr 8, 2024
How to Secure a Network: 9 Key Actions to Secure Your Data
Liz Ticong
Mar 21, 2024
7 Best Data Security Software: Solutions For 2024
Datamation Logo

Datamation is the leading industry resource for B2B data professionals and technology buyers. Datamation's focus is on providing insight into the latest trends and innovation in AI, data security, big data, and more, along with in-depth product recommendations and comparisons. More than 1.7M users gain insight and guidance from Datamation every year.

Property of TechnologyAdvice. © 2025 TechnologyAdvice. All Rights Reserved

Advertiser Disclosure: Some of the products that appear on this site are from companies from which TechnologyAdvice receives compensation. This compensation may impact how and where products appear on this site including, for example, the order in which they appear. TechnologyAdvice does not include all companies or all types of products available in the marketplace.