Google will be fined $7 million as part of a privacy settlement regarding its Street View car fleet’s collection of passwords, messages and other sensitive data from unsecured Wi-Fi networks as it rolled past homes and businesses from 2008 through mid-2010, it was announced Tuesday. Google has already secured the information and agreed to destroy it without using it in any Google services. It has also taken steps to ensure Street View vehicles will not collect similar information in the future without first getting consumers’ consent. Acknowledging the privacy lapse, Google has also agreed to start a new consumer privacy employee training program and start a national ad campaign educating users on protecting their private information. “While the $7 million is significant, the importance of this agreement goes beyond financial terms,” said Attorney General George Jepsen of Connecticut, which is among 38 states that will split the $7 million fine.
About Shelly Palmer
Shelly Palmer is the Professor of Advanced Media in Residence at Syracuse University’s S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications and CEO of The Palmer Group, a consulting practice that helps Fortune 500 companies with technology, media and marketing. Named LinkedIn’s “Top Voice in Technology,” he covers tech and business for Good Day New York, is a regular commentator on CNN and writes a popular daily business blog. He's a bestselling author, and the creator of the popular, free online course, Generative AI for Execs. Follow @shellypalmer or visit shellypalmer.com.