Google gets the all-clear after data gathering mistake

The UK's Information Commissioner Office has said that Google did not take any "significant" personal details while it was collecting data from Wi-Fi networks. It follows a review of the process, which alleged that Google had grabbed data from unsecured networks.

While acknowledging that it had gathered data, the information was "mistakenly" collected as it logged Wi-Fi hotspots in order to improve the quality and coverage of its location-based services. The data gathering error revolved around unsecured hotspots while Google used their Street View cars to collect images of streets.

The initial request to learn more about Google data gathering activities came from data protection authorities in Hamburg, Germany, after concerns were expressed about the technology being used to operate the Google Street View technology. Following that request, other data protection authorities made similar requests, with one in France highlighting particular concerns regarding sensitive information made during a preliminary examination.

In a statement, the ICO said: "On the basis of the samples we saw, we are satisfied so far that it is unlikely that Google will have captured significant amounts of personal data." The ICO was also sufficiently satisfied that, as yet, the data captured by Google has caused or could cause any individual detriment.

Google responded by saying: "We welcome the news that the data protection authorities in the UK have found that the payload data contained no meaningful personal information." It also added: "As we said when we announced our mistake, we did not want and have never used any payload data in our products or services."

In a bid to smooth things over Google has stopped the data gathering processes highlighted by the enquiries and apologised. Here in the UK Google is facing an ongoing investigation by the Metropolitan police. Additional investigations are also taking place in France, Germany, Spain and Australia.

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