Google and privacy investigation

Google faces a privacy investigation here in Canada.

Canada is just one of several countries who have opened investigations into Google, Inc. questioning their ability to be able to gain private information from people who used their wireless networks. The investigation circles around Google’s Street View Service which is also part of the Google Earth program. A malfunction in the code enabled Google officials to collect data from unencrypted wi-fi networks while taking pictures for its Google Earth and Google Maps programs.

Currently, Google, Inc. has not made any comments concerning the ongoing investigation in Canada. The one thing that Canadian officials hope is that it will make companies like Google more responsible about how they obtain information and releasing it on certain location based services.

The Privacy Commissioner of Canada has asked that Google retain all of the information that it had gotten from Canada. The Privacy Commissioner works under the Canadian Parliment and their job is to make sure to protect any all private and personal information that all Canadians may have. Assistant Privacy Commissioner Elizabeth Dunham stated that her office will be vigilant in making sure that online services such as Google be held accountable for the way they handle their information.

Canadian Government Questions Google's Privacy Policy