HELP   |   REGISTER   |   LOGIN
RSS
The Individual Investor Intelligence Network
HOME  |  GLOBAL MACRO  |  MEDIA  |  TECHNOLOGY  |  BIOTECH  |  COMMODITIES  |  EDUCATION  |  IU25 INDEX  |  ABOUT US
Comments
View Comments: Threaded | Newest First | Oldest First
Drivewaygirl
User Rank
Platinum
Google Slapped over Privacy Issues
Drivewaygirl   4/16/2012 1:39:33 PM
NO RATINGS
Not a good day for Google, even though $25,000 is basically a slap on the wrist. The Federal Communications Commission is seeking a $25,000 fine after examining how Google gathered personal e-mails, text messages and other materials through its Street View location service, and "impeded" and"delayed" a U.S. inquiry into its data-collection practices.

$25,000 is the maximum penalty for failure to cooperate with an investigation,  an FCC spokeswoman told Bloomberg.

"Google unlawfully intercepted and stored millions of wireless communications from Wi-Fi routers," said Marc Rotenberg, executive director of the Electronic Privacy Information Center, which requested the FCC investigation. "We believe that is a violation of the federal wiretap act."

What do you think?

Noreen Seebacher
User Rank
Blogger
Re: Google Slapped over Privacy Issues
Noreen Seebacher   4/16/2012 2:07:46 PM
NO RATINGS
It was creepy enough to look at streetview images and see your car in the driveway. But to know Google also collected information from unprotected Wi-Fi networks, including the location, name and in some cases the content including emails while it was driving around collecting the images is unnerving.

 

The FCC's investigation was left unresolved, according to the New York Times, because one key participant – the Google engineer in charge of the project – cited Fifth Amendement rights and declined to talk to it. "Google refused to identify any employees or produce any emails. The company could not supply compliant declarations without identifying employees it preferred not to identify," said an FCC order dated 13 April.

Doesn't seem like this data was collected by mistake!!

Noreen Seebacher
User Rank
Blogger
Re: Google Slapped over Privacy Issues
Noreen Seebacher   4/17/2012 2:34:24 PM
NO RATINGS
The Electronic Privacy Information Center (EPIC) has called on U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder, Jr., to launch a new investigation into Google following a FCC probe that resulted in the $25,000 fine. (For a company "worth almost $200 billion, this amount is so meaningless it's basically laughable," said an EPIC spokesperson.)

Rep. Ed. Markey (D-MA) has called on Congress to hold a hearing, The Los Angeles Times reports.

impactnow
User Rank
Iron
Guidelines ?
impactnow   4/18/2012 1:23:46 PM
NO RATINGS

I agree they shouldn't have collected the information but the question I have is whether the guidelines for companies have been updated by the FCC to reflect this type of violation?





The blogs and comments posted on Investor Uprising do not reflect the views of Investor Uprising, PRNewswire, or its sponsors. Investor Uprising, PRNewswire, and its sponsors do not assume responsibility for any comments, claims, or opinions made by authors and bloggers. They are no substitute for your own research and should not be relied upon for trading or any other purpose.
Latest Blogs
Telecom-equipment maker Ciena is a stock trader’s dream, as long as the timing is correct.
The FTC is offering a $50,000 cash prize to the person or group that can come up with a solution to those annoying robocalls.
Akamai is in the middle of four significant tech trends.
John Malone of Liberty Media will be taking over Sirius XM satellite radio when the existing CEO Mel Karmazin steps down. What's it mean?
Demand for students of the humanities exists, despite widespread aspersions on the discipline.
IU Education
Resources to help you become a better investor
IU Education
Quick Poll
Investor Uprising on Twitter
Investor Uprising on Twiter
Market Chatter
Like Us on Facebook
Top 10 IU Hot Topics
25 market-moving companies we're tracking
PR Newswire's Terms of Use Apply | Privacy | Contact Us
Copyright © 1996-2013 PR Newswire Association LLC. All Rights Reserved.
A UBM plc company.
PR Newswire