Google has been "accidently" collecting private data over the last 4 years

[Flagg]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20100515/...us_google_wifi

Okay so according to this article, Google which has been using these cars to photograph streets and other locations for Google Maps, Google Earth, etc, says that over the last 4 years, Google has "mistakingly" collected over 600 GB of addresses. We're potentially talking about billions of addresses, passwords, and all sorts now in the property of Google, who of course has said that because this was a massive mistake, they have never used any such information.

This is across 30 countries across the world including the USA, much of Europe, Brazil, Hong Kong and so on.

How does everyone feel about this? The fact that Google has (inadvertantly) been eavesdropping on private networks?

I've often said that the internet is a massive entity and practically impossible to police, but im not so sure in light of this. Makes you wonder what really is safe once you put something into writing on the internet somewhere.

[Flagg]

Im no computer expert, but I find it impossible that Google cars with cameras could "accidently" be receiving and recording WiFi data.

[DSM4Life]

If you understood the technology you could.

[Bryan2]

not a big deal unless your a conspiracy freak. Its not like google is going to pay to have people analyze the freaking gigantic amount of data that was recorded mistakenly anyway

Just in the hopes that they could possibly pick up something.

In real life there prolly isnt anything worth any sort of value what so ever,

Google has nothing to gain from looking into what they recorded.

[gixxerboy1]

they may have intercepted my emails to my girlfriends and blackmail me so they don't tell my wife

[boz]

Hmm this is kinda weird, because my university teacher where i study networking, he claim's and i quote "google is spying on us" how ironic :O

[Jahcuree]

they may have intercepted my emails to my girlfriends and blackmail me so they don't tell my wife

LOL, im sorry

[zabster151]

google is spying on us. its no accident

[warchild]

google is spying on us. its no accident

they must have been involved with 9/11 too, rite?

[PC650]

they must have been involved with 9/11 too, rite?

correct..

[Fox23]

Street View kind of creeps me out, and honestly, I've never actually used it in trying to get me somewhere. I always just show it to friends on my computer like "hey look at this!"

But as far as it being used to get me from point A to point B like I think is what their intentions where for it, I never use it for that. Except sometimes I will look my destination on Street View just so I recognize it when I get there if I'm driving to some place I've never been to.