Google’s “street-view” data under scrutiny- $7 million fine a possibility

Northern, WI 03/09/2013 (avauncer) – With the advent of the internet, your life is an open book. Google’s “street-view” product used customer data that had been collected in an improper manner. If the resolution is passed, Google Inc (NASDAQ:GOOG) will have to shell out close to $7 million to settle the allegations. The resolution is slated to be announced by the start of next week. Over the three year period that started in 2007, apart from other purposes, Google used the data that has been skimmed improperly from non-secure wireless networks. These included those that had been gathered from text messages, emails, web-use history and passwords said the Federal Communications Commission.

Worldwide clashes

Google Inc (NASDAQ:GOOG), which operates the world’s largest search engine, has been wrestling with being scrutinized by various government officials from across the world over its handling of private customer information. A Google spokesperson, Nadja Blagojevic, for the California-based company said that the Google works very hard to gets its privacy functions in place and this was an exception which is why the reins were immediately pulled in and the issue was addressed as soon as it was noticed. No comments were made about the exact amount of the settlement.

Changes will have to be made

In May, Google Inc (NASDAQ:GOOG) had said that it would be discontinuing its Wi-Fi information for “street-view”. This application is the one that can display streets on Google Maps. At that point of time the company had said that this information had been collected accidentally. The settlement with the over 30 states that are involved, would probably include some changes to the manner in which data is collected for the street-view feature. It could also be a combination of both. The Attorney General’s office is also investigating whether this matter is an active and ongoing one.

Shares of Google Inc (NASDAQ:GOOG) went down by 0.13% to close at $831.52