EPIC Google Street View roundup
2pnet view P2P | Advertising:- Google’s sneak view Street View advertising hook has been a major centre of controversy ever since it reared its ugly head. But there are so many reports and so much Google counter-spin, there’s a distinct danger of not being able to see the wood for the trees.
However, “Epic seems to have a semi-decent time line of events on gargoyle streetview and it’s mass invasion of communications privacy”, says a Reader’s Write.
It does indeed.
“Many countries around the world have launched investigations of Google Street View”, it says in the intro, going on:
“The number of investigations increased dramatically once it was determined that Google was collecting Wi-Fi data in addition to digital images. The purpose of this page is to provide an overview of the various investigations. We will update the page as information is received. Please send updates to streetviewwatch@epic.org.”
And:
“When Google began the Street View project in 2007, many privacy concerns were raised, but the debates focused almost exclusively on the collection and display of images obtained by the Google Street View digital cameras.”
But “It turns out that Google was also obtaining a vast amount of Wi-Fi data from Wi-Fi receivers that were concealed in the Street View vehicles. Following independent investigations, Google now concedes that it gathered MAC addresses (the unique device ID for Wi-Fi hotposts) and network SSIDs (the user-assigned network ID name) tied to location information for private wireless networks. Google also admits that it has intercepted and stored Wi-Fi transmission data, which includes email passwords and email content. As of June 18, 2010, investigations are going forward in 18 countries and five states in the US.”
The collection is worth a look, and to get you started, below are Epic summaries of recent reports centering on the scandal >>>
- Several States Launch Investigations of Google Street View, Connecticut Attorney General Calls Activity “Pernicious Invasion of Privacy”: Several state attorneys general have opened investigations of Google, following disclosures that the company captured and stored Wi-Fi data in addition to digital images. These states include Connecticut, Illinois, Massachusetts, Michigan, and Missouri. Maryland and New York are also reported to be pursuing investigations. Connecticut AG Richard Blumenthal describedstatement, the Connecticut Attorney General said he will determine the legality of Google’s WiFi collection practices. Earlier, EPIC sent a letter to the Federal Communications Commission urging the FCC to determine whether Google may have violated the Wiretap Act and the Communications Act. Google has since grounded its entire Street View fleet and ceased all WiFi data collection. For more information, see EPIC – Investigations of Google Street View. (Jun. 18, 2010) the “driveby data sweeps” of WiFi networks as “deeply disturbing, a potentially impermissible, pernicious invasion of privacy.” In a subsequent
- French Privacy Officials Find that Google Captured Email Passwords, Private Email Content: The French National Commission on Computing and Liberty (CNIL) has released preliminary results (French) (English) of the Google Street View investigation in France. According to the CNIL, Google “saved passwords for access to mailboxes” and obtained content of electronic messages. The CNIL is pursuing the investigation to determine whether Google engaged in “unfair and unlawful collection of data” as well as “invasion of privacy and individual liberties.” Investigations are now underway in at least 18 countries and five states in the US. EPIC has prepared a preliminary survey of Investigations of Google Street View. (Jun. 18, 2010)
- Privacy International Launches System to Shed Light on Controversial Technologies: International watchdog Privacy International has announced the launch of a new website for bringing transparency to “technical mysteries” behind controversial systems. Cracking the Black Box identifies key questions regarding mysterious technologies and asks experts, whistleblowers, and other concerned parties to “help crack the box” by anonymously contributing ideas and input. The organization responsible for the technology in question is then invited to provide an official response. The first two issues addressed on the PI site are the Google Wi-Fi controversy and the EU proposal to retain search data. (Jun. 16, 2010)
- FCC Consumer Bureau Chief Says Google Street View “Clearly Infringes on Consumer Privacy,” Charges Company with “Cyber Snooping”: The Chief of the Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau for the Federal Communications Commission warned consumers that Google’s “behavior” raises important privacy concerns and said that the collection of Wi-Fi data, “whether intentional or not . . . clearly infringes on consumer privacy.” Mr. Gurin further stated that the FCC Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureauwrote to the FCC Chairman Jules Genachowski and urged the Commission to open an investigation of Google Street View. EPIC said, “The Commission plays a critical role in safeguarding the integrity of communications networks and the privacy of American consumers.” (Jun. 14, 2010) is “now addressing cyber security as a high priority.” EPIC recently
- Investigation of Google “Spy-Fi” Expands, Congress to Hold Hearings: In the expanding probe of the “Spy-Fi” matter, Google admitted in a letter to the House Energy and Commerce Committee that Street View cars were purposefully downloading and capturing Wi-Fi data. Google claimed that the practice was legal, though it also said it “would stop Street View cars from collecting WiFi data entirely.” The response comes two weeks after House members Henry Waxman (D-CA), Joe Barton (R-TX), and Edward Markey (D-MA) wrote to CEO Eric Schmidt demanding answers about Google’s Street View vehicles. Google’s responses to lawmakers have raised new questions, most notably why didn’t Google reveal the full scope of its Street View activities? Representative Barton said, “this matter warrants a hearing, at minimum” and commented that Google’s conduct is “ironic in view of the fact that Google is lobbying the government to regulate Internet service providers, but not Google.” Representative Markey said, “We will continue to actively and aggressively monitor developments in this area.” (Jun. 14, 2010)
- Privacy International Charges Google with Criminal Intent in “Spy-Fi” Matter:Privacy International asserts that an audit of Google’s Street View data collection shows that Google separated out and systematically stored network content obtained from private Wi-Fi devices. According to PI, this establishes that Google’s Wi-Fi data collection was intentional, despite Google’s assurances to the contrary. The audit follows an investigation which revealed that Google Street View vehicles were secretly capturing and recording private Wi-Fi data in addition to photographic images. Street View vehicles operated in 30 countries over a three-year period until Google was forced to suspend the program. In the US, EPIC has sent a letter to the Federal Communications Commission, urging the FCC open an investigation to determine whether Google violated US wiretap laws. (Jun. 11, 2010) International privacy watchdog
- Congressional Leaders Write to Google’s Schmidt About “Spy-Fi”: Congressmen Henry Waxman (D-CA), Joe Barton (R-TX), and Ed Markey (D-MA) have sent a detailed lettercomplaint that EPIC has sent to the Julius Genachowski, chairman of the Federal Communications Commission, suggesting that Google may have violated federal wiretap laws. For more information, see Congress Urges FTC to Investigate Google. (May. 26, 2010) to Google CEO Eric Schmidt about the reports that Google Street View vehicles scarfed up Wi-Fi data in thirty countries, including the United States. The letter follows a
- EPIC Urges Federal Communications Commission to Open Investigation Into Google Street View: EPIC wrote today to FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski to recommend that the Commission open an investigation into the consumer data collected from wi-fi hotspots by Google Street View. In its letter, EPIC stated that Google routinely and secretly intercepted and stored user communications data and routinely and secretly intercepted and stored private communications hotspots. EPIC said that this conduct appears to violate federal wiretap laws as well as the Communications Act and asked the Commission to begin an investigation. EPIC noted that “The Commission plays a critical role in safeguarding the integrity of communications networks and the privacy of American consumers.” For more information, see Congress Urges FTC to Investigate Google. (May. 21, 2010)
- Congress Urges FTC to Investigate Google Following Revelation that “Street View” Scarfed Wi-Fi Data: Congressmen Joe Barton (R-TX) and Edward Markey (D-MA) wrote to FTC Chairman Liebowitz about Google’s collection of consumer’s private Wi-Fi transmissions. The House members asked the FTC Chairman to investigate whether Google’s actions violate federal privacy laws or consumer protection laws. Google has admitted to collecting email and internet surfing data, but has not clarified the extent or nature of the data collection. The letter from Congress follows an investigation in Europe which revealedCloud Computing. (May. 19, 2010) that Google’s “Street View” vehicles in 30 countries collected not only digital images, but also data transmitted on private wireless networks. EPIC has several privacy complaints pending at the FTC, including one on
And here’s Epic’s timeline >>>
- May 29, 2007 – Google announces launch of Street View, initially available in San Francisco, New York, Las vegas, Denver, and Miami.
- May 30, 2007 – Internet publication BoingBoing discusses emerging privacy concerns associated with Street View, after a reader notes with alarm that it features her living room window with enough detail to render her pet cat clearly visible.
- June 1, 2007 – The New York Times reports on the Street View privacy debate and numerous websites soliciting interesting photographs pulled from Street View by users.
- September 11, 2007 – The Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada issues a press release noting that the Privacy Commissioner had written to Google “to seek further information [regarding Street View] and assurances that Canadians’ privacy rights [would] be safeguarded if [Street View were] deployed in Canada.”
- September 25, 2007 – Canadian news service CanWest reports that Google’s global privacy counsel Peter Fleischer promises Google will “try not to have identifiable faces and identifiable licence plate numbers in any Street View images in Canada.”
- December 11, 2007 – The Boston Globe quotes Stephen Chau, product manager for Google Maps as saying, “We take privacy concerns seriously . . . All these images are taken on public streets. It’s exactly what you could see walking down the street.”
- April 2, 2008 – A Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania couple files suit against Google for invasion of privacy after Street View makes photographs of the couple’s home available online without their consent and despite the fact that their secluded home is located on a private road. The case is later dismissed.
- May 12, 2008 – Google announces that it has begun testing face-blurring technology to automatically recognize and blur faces in Street View photographs.
- March 23, 2009 – International privacy watchdog group Privacy International addresses a complaint to UK Information Commissioner Richard Thomas regarding Google Street View.
- April 1, 2009 – Residents of Broughton, Buckinghamshire, England force a Street View recording vehicle spotted in their neighborhood to turn around, citing privacy and safety concerns.
- May 11, 2009 – Greece’s Data Protection Authority halts Google’s collection of images on its streets, pending investigation.
- May, 2009 – Google Japan agrees to lower the height of the cameras on its Street View vehicles amidst concerns that the vehicles may be capturing images from above the height of fences and walls intended to keep homes concealed.
- July 28, 2009 – The London Times publishes a letter from Google’s Global Privacy Counsel Peter Fleischer rebutting allegations that Google flouts privacy concerns and stating, “We work hard to make sure our users understand what data we collect and how we use it, because we are committed to transparency and user choice.”
- August 21, 2009 – The Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada writes a letter to Google summarizing Street View negotiations to date and reminding Google of “the need for [citizens'] knowledge and consent” in Street View operations.
- November 13, 2009 – The Federal Data Protection and Information Commissioner of Switzerland announces that his office is taking Google to Federal Administrative Court over Google’s Street View practices.
- April 23, 2010 – German Data Protection Commissioners announce that Google Street View vehicles have been collecting data from wi-fi networks. Commissioner Peter Schaar states in part, “I am shocked for which purposes these tours were used without the third parties being aware of them.”
Stay tuned.
… and identi.ca
June, 2010
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