More Google Street View Privacy Related Issues Surface

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Late last month Google let us know that they had accidentally collected data flowing through open WiFi networks while compiling data for their Street View Maps feature. This obviously posed a privacy threat to all that were involved as there is really no telling what Google now has their hands on. Of course, to say that Google would ever use this data in a malicious way would be somewhat ludicrous but with conspiracy theorists running rampant the idea is always there in the minds of the paranoid.

Well, not long after Google announced that the data had been collected, they let us know that they would be disposing of the data as soon as possible so that everyone who was worried about it getting into the wrong hands would be able to sleep easy. Of course a whole slew of people looking to cash in on Google’s mistake cried foul play and Google was forced to retain the data as evidence that would then be used against them.

Unfortunately for the search engine new reports have surfaced that give those already concered about the mix up to be even more concerned. Initially, we weren’t aware of what exactly the data was that Google collected instead only that it was data flowing through open WiFi networks, as I mentioned above. Now, it seems that after getting their hands on the data, the French National Commission on Computing and Liberty has reached some alarmingly conclusions.

While Google only captured fragments of data, some data that was captured not only included peices of emails, but also email passwords. Now again, it wouldn’t be realistic to think Google would be looking through your email’s and what not but the thought of this information getting into the wrong hands is obviously the problem here.

Then again, I’m sure a whole new wave of law suits is going to be placed before Google after in lieu of this report.