Australia to investigate Google for privacy breach

Police in Australia have been asked to probe Google as a result of complaints that Google had gathered personal data from unencrypted wi-fi services.

Google has acknowledged that this has happened but has also apologized, maintaining that it was in error, reported the BBC. Attorney General Robert McClelland said that there had been numerous complaints from the public and that police should investigate possible criminal breaches of the telecommunications privacy laws, which prohibit people from accessing electronic communication data for unauthorized purposes. The BBC reports that Google will cooperate with police investigations. The alleged offenses occurred when Google vehicles were traveling to gather pictures for Street View, a Google service. It is alleged that while taking images, the vehicles also collected private wireless data from wi-fi services as it passed them. The BBC also added that the Australian government said Google had committed "probably the single biggest breach in the history of privacy." The company says it mistakenly collected the data and has since apologised, and has implied that the Australian government is pursuing a corporate vendetta, says the BBC's Nick Bryant in Sydney. Google has also criticized the Australian government in the past for its plans to filter the internet, blocking illegal material. Google maintains that it would slow down user speeds and filter legitimate content. Australia is the third country to launch official inquiries into Google and its data collection, following both Germany and Canada.