About 30 US states are looking to work together to examine how Google, Inc.'s Street View vehicles were able to collect Internet users' personal data from unsecured wireless networks. Led by Connecticut Attorney General Richard Blumenthal, the joint investigation will seek additional information from Google. Also, it will examine whether or not laws were broken when the company mistakenly collected data on people's web usage.
In a recent interview, Blumenthal said that a core group of state attorneys general had agreed to combine their resources and expertise to scrutinise the issue. According to him, over 30 states had expressed interest in the matter. He expects a 'significant group' of states will ultimately join the probe.
The multi-state inquiry is the latest development in a growing privacy controversy that made news across the globe. Google has blamed the mistake on an experimental piece of software which was accidentally used in its signal-collection tool. It has hired an Internet security firm to examine the software error.
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 has reportedly said that while it was a mistake to collect personal data, it does not believe it has broken any laws. According to a Google spokesperson, the company continues to work with relevant authorities to answer their questions and concerns.
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