Google has announced that its Street View cars are back in action for the first time following the revelation that they snooped private Wi-Fi data. This time, they will not be collecting any Wi-Fi information.
The cars tour the world taking photos to be used in the Street View add-on to Googles Maps service, but they have been off the road since May when Google admitted the cars stored unencrypted data from Wi-Fi networks as they passed in the line of duty. The so-called “WiSpy” incident caused outrage form governments and privacy advocates.
When Google realised there was a problem it halted the cars separated the data and disconnected it from the network, and has agreed to surrender the data it gathered to European authorities and US officials. A Scotland Yard investigation is pending, and countries such as Germany, France and Spain have launched investigations. In the US, a Congressional oversight committee has asked Google to explain how the data was collected, even if unintended.
“We have decided to start Street View driving in Ireland, Norway, South Africa and Sweden again starting next week,” Brian McClendon, vice president of engineering for Google Geo, said in a blog. “We expect to add more countries in time.”
“The WiFi data collection equipment has been removed from our cars in each country,” said McClendon. The cars will now only collect photos and 3D building imagery collected using low power lasers,he said.
United Nations body to protect undersea communications cables that are crucial for international trade and…
Weeks after CEO Mark Zuckerberg met with Donald Trump privately at Mar-a-Lago, comes news of…
Protecting American clean energy businesses. Biden administration plans to raise tariffs on certain Chinese products
News fee. Australia looks introduce mandatory charge on social media platforms and search engines to…
Discover the AI skills your business needs, from machine learning to ethics, and learn how…
Apple highlights its UK investment has grown to £18 billion, as CEO Tim Cook meets…