France Slaps Google with Record Fine over Street View
France Slaps Google with Record Fine over Street View
Posted 03/21/2011 at 6:35am
| by Paul Lilly
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Google's semi-controversial Street View technology is once again making headlines, this time because of a heavy-handed fine imposed by France's data privacy regulator. According to an AFP report, France fined Google 100,000 euros today, or about $142,000 in U.S. currency, for collecting private information. It's the biggest fine ever handed out by the National Commission for Information Freedom (CNIL) since the organization obtained the power to do so in 2004.
Europe has a history of opposing Google's Street View service, mostly because of privacy concerns. However, Google did admit in 2010 that camera-mounted cars taking photos were also capturing Wi-Fi signals and capturing unencrypted private data, like passwords and emails. None of this was intentional and the information was supposed to be destroyed, but according to CNIL, "Google has not refrained from using the data identifying Wi-Fi access points of individuals without their knowledge."
This played at least a partial role in France's decision to fine Google.
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aarcane
March 21, 2011 at 6:41pm
That wifi thing is kinda scary, but I still believe that if you leave the door open, you can't complain when someone walks in..
on a related note, if you don't want people to photograph it, you shouldn't put it on display. At worst, google should be offering an option "This is my IP, please censor it" in conjunction with their street view service.
biggiebob12345
April 16, 2012 at 1:18pm
Your analogy is wrong. Just because someone leaves their car door unlocked doesn't mean you can jump in and drive away. Google was still OK vacuuming up wifi data. A better analogy would be you standing on the street corner with a megaphone and then complaining when someone listens.
damicatz
March 21, 2011 at 9:44am
Well, someone needs to pay for all those expensive bombs and cruise missiles they launched at Libya.
tralala
March 21, 2011 at 9:12am
what else is to be expected from a country whose language sounds like they're choking on a dick and taking one in the ass at the same time
Caboose
March 21, 2011 at 9:34am
Um... I think your version of the French language is different than the rest of the world's version.
French is a very smooth language not harsh at all.
bear
March 21, 2011 at 5:59pm
Yeah French is very smooth, although it does give an..interesting perspective on "language of love".
tralala
March 21, 2011 at 9:11am
what else is to be expected from a country whose language sounds like they're choking on a dick and taking one in the ass at the same time
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