Internet search services provider, Google, Inc., US, has once again come under criticism for its Street View project. A crime prevention association in Spain has accused Google of illegally gathering private data from Wi-Fi networks in the country through its Street View project, and filed a suit against the company in a Madrid court. Many countries have recently raised several doubts and questions regarding the company's method of data collection.
The Spanish Data Protection Association (AEPD) started a probe on May 19 to determine if the company had broken the law protecting citizens' personal data and rights.
Earlier last month, Google had said that it had collected data over public Wi-Fi networks by mistake in about 30 countries. It was then suspected that the company might have violated privacy laws. Privacy commissioners globally have also questioned the company about privacy issues.
Under pressure from European officials, Google acknowledged that it had collected snippets of private data worldwide. The company had then said that the information was sent over unencrypted residential wireless networks as Google's Street View cars with mounted recording equipment passed by. The company also said that the data collection that took place in all the countries where Street View had been catalogued was unintentional and happened due to a programming error. It, however, assured that the information had not been used and would be deleted as per regulations. Javier Rodriguez, Google's Director for Spain, has said that the data would be returned to AEPD.
It is now being suspected that the company might have committed a crime under Article 197 of the Criminal Code. Violation of the law could draw up to four years in prison.
In addition, Greece and Austria have also banned Google's Street View vehicles.
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