Google Says It Mistakenly Collected Data on Web Usage

Wall Street Journal ^ | 5-14-10 | Jessica E. Vascellaro

[STARWISE]

Google Inc. said an internal investigation has discovered that the roving vans the company uses to create its online mapping services were mistakenly collecting data about websites people were visiting over wireless networks.

The Internet giant said it would stop collecting Wi-Fi data from its StreetView vans, which workers drive to capture street images and to locate Wi-Fi networks. The company said it would dispose of the data it had accidentally collected.

*snip*

"It's now clear that we have been mistakenly collecting samples of payload data from open (i.e. non-password-protected) Wi-Fi networks, even though we never used that data in any Google products," wrote Mr. Eustace. "We are profoundly sorry for this error and are determined to learn all the lessons we can from our mistake."

[STARWISE]

The camera of a German Google Street View car looms over the car next to the Google logo at the Google stand at the CeBIT Technology Fair on March 3, 2010 in Hannover, Germany.

~~~~

Google's in -0's back pocket, tracking internet usage and withholding search info .. especially if it pertains to him.

List of internet search engines

[Talisker]

Hey, it was an accident - Google had no idea their street cameras could pick up wifi addresses, correleate them with the photographs, identify the addresses of the photographed houses, look up and match the residents of the houses, match them with the wifi addresses and store them in a secret database.

Mistakes happen.

[This Just In]

“Google Inc. said an internal investigation has discovered...” “...were mistakenly collecting data...”

Oh yes, of course. A “mistake”. We believe you, Google.

“We are profoundly sorry for this error and are determined to learn all the lessons we can from our mistake.”

Yes, I’m sure. I can just feel the sincerity. We believe you, Google. Do you believe that we believe you?

[Nickname]

“It’s easier to ask for forgiveness than it is to get permission.”

[Political Junkie Too]

Also discussed here: http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/2513812/posts?

-PJ

[Total Package]

later

[chuck_the_tv_out]

I never trusted wifi, on instinct! Google are awful & getting worse. Obama dumped on their competitors Apple & MS the other day. I've not seen anyone make that correlation. Google are totally in bed with the regime.

[BigSkyFreeper]

The Internet giant said it would stop collecting Wi-Fi data from its StreetView vans, which workers drive to capture street images and to locate Wi-Fi networks. The company said it would dispose of the data it had accidentally collected.

"Accidently"?  They admit to collecting the data, so it wasn't by accident.

[chuck_the_tv_out]

I will be studying at a major NE college soon & would prefer to keep my surfing habits (ie. FR etc.) not “googlized”. I want a good pay proxy service. Can anyone recommend one?

[chuck_the_tv_out]

"Accidently"? They admit to collecting the data, so it wasn't by accident.

It's like when a leftist says they "misspoke" - it's just utterly meaningless newsspeak. It just keeps you off-balance enough so you go away.

[Nevermore]

Steve Urkel now works at Google.

"Did I do that?"

[reasonisfaith]

How obvious can you get. Pretend it was a mistake, limited to a narrow scope and you want to fix it, as a cover for the fact that you’re actually doing more of it behind the scenes on a broader scale.

[6SJ7]

I suspect Google has to legally say they “mistakenly” collected the data (which is interesting since they re a technology company) because otherwise they would be guilty of conducting illegal wiretaps/eavesdropping.

[meyer]

Well, if they were observing activity on MY wireless network, they they have to have cracked my WPA/WPA2 security code. And THAT is a criminal act.

[Paige]

Sure this was a mistake. They're covering their collective behinds, because I assure you there is a law suit on the way. Someone busted them and this is called PR 101 in order to cover their behinds. This is big, very big. Think outside the box, "IF" Google can do this what other groups can do this ? ACORN? Perhaps your own government?

Most of all, millions were ciphered by ACORN during the 2008 presidential election in order for Google to give to the Obama campaign. The rumors that are flying around say that Obama is more paranoid than Nixon ever dared to be. So you keep believing this was a mistake. Here's a simple question for you. What will have to take place for you to open your eyes - Martial Law to stop the elections? The middle class becoming nonexistent and socialism taking over? What will have to take place for you to wake-up?

[homegroan]

LOL! That’s just what I wanted to say, but with only 2 sips of coffee, it’s not happening!

super secret tech accidents happen bttt ping

[SumProVita]

Hooray! Scroogle is back...

http://www.scroogle.org/cgi-bin/scraper.htm

[lionheart 247365]

....... right ! ......and I stopped using google by mistake !! ,,,,,,,, hardly !!!

[Minn]

were mistakenly collecting data about websites people were visiting over wireless networks

I don't get it. They drive by in a van and detect the presence of your wireless network. How do they get to the next step of knowing what web sites you've been visiting? Do they stop, login, and browse your temp files and cookies?

[rockabyebaby]

All your “mistakes” are belong to us.