The UK's Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) has cleared internet search services provider Google Inc. of collecting 'meaningful personal details' during the company's Street View wireless data breach, earlier this year.
The ICO recently visited Google's premises to assess samples of the 'pay-load' data it inadvertently collected. While Google considered it unlikely that it had collected anything other than fragments of content, the data-protection agency wanted to make its own judgement as to the likelihood that significant personal data had been retained and, if so, the extent of any intrusion.
The ICO concluded that the information collected by Google's cars did not include meaningful personal details that could be linked to an identifiable person. The ICO further noted that there is also no evidence as yet that the data captured by Google has caused or could cause any individual detriment.
In May 2010, Google acknowledged that its Street View vehicles had inadvertently collected data over public Wi-Fi networks while marking the location of the Wi-Fi networks and taking pictures for its online mapping service. The company had then said that while it was a mistake to collect personal data, it does not believe it has broken any laws. Google continues to work with relevant authorities to answer their questions and concerns. The British report likely will not affect the ongoing investigations in the US, Germany, France and other countries.
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