Google cleared of spying in New Zealand
September 2nd, 2010 - 2:16 pm ICT by IANSAuckland, Sep 2 (IANS) Internet giant Google has been cleared of gathering personal wireless internet data during its street view operation in New Zealand.
New Zealand police Thursday said they have found no evidence that Google committed a criminal offence, the New Zealand Herald reported.
Police have, however, referred the matter back to the Privacy Commission, which in June had asked police to investigate after concerns were raised that Google had collected unencrypted Wi-Fi data while photographing streets with 3D cameras for its street view mapping service.
Google later admitted collecting public Wi-Fi data in more than 30 countries, though it did not disclose what kind of information had been collected. The company said it had “locked-down” the information while the matter was being investigated.
Detective Senior Sergeant John van den Heuvel, of New Zealand’s national cyber crime centre, said there was no evidence to suggest Google had committed a criminal offence.
The matter was a timely reminder about Wi-Fi security, he said.
“Anyone using Wi-Fi needs to ensure they have appropriate security measures in place.”
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- Google, O-Zone tie up to provide free Wi-Fi access - Jan 12, 2012
- Google faces criminal probe for possible privacy violation in Germany, Spain - May 20, 2010
- Google confesses collecting private data from unprotected wi-fi networks - May 15, 2010
- Google to delete personal data collected accidentally - Nov 21, 2010
- Google fires engineer for privacy violation - Sep 15, 2010
- Google mapped Britain's all WiFi networks - Jun 01, 2010
- Google allows Street View car inspection - May 27, 2010
- 'Google collected private data from Spanish Wi-Fi networks' - Jun 14, 2010
- Google Street View also copied people's emails, passwords - Oct 24, 2010
- US states investigate Google for Wi-Fi snooping scandal - Jul 23, 2010
- Australian Govt orders probe into Google's 'biggest breach in the history of privacy' - Jun 07, 2010
- Denmark asks Google to destroy sensitive data - Jun 10, 2010
- Wi-fi in homes can be hacked in five seconds - Oct 15, 2010
- Google's German Street View to go live after privacy row - Aug 10, 2010
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