Apparently Google Street View cars were armed with a lot more than camera’s. Google is admitting that their Street View cars have accessed e-mail address and passwords while driving around Canada. Google has now appointed a privacy chief and promises to tighten its policies.
This admission comes days after the Canadian Privacy Commissioner Jennifer Stoddart stated Google violated the privacy of thousands of Canadians when it captured sensitive information such as e-mails, usernames and passwords, and also information on some medical conditions of Canadians on its street view excursions around Canada. “This incident was a serious violation of Canadians’ privacy rights,” Stoddart stated. Google blames the error on an experimental program installed with the Google Street View cars.
It seems Canadians are getting quite the reputation for digital advocacy and whistle blowing abroad. From ACTA to Facebook and now Google, our citizens and regulators are keeping the digital world in check. As a Canadian I’m proud to wear that reputation.
This admission comes days after the Canadian Privacy Commissioner Jennifer Stoddart stated Google violated the privacy of thousands of Canadians when it captured sensitive information such as e-mails, usernames and passwords, and also information on some medical conditions of Canadians on its street view excursions around Canada. “This incident was a serious violation of Canadians’ privacy rights,” Stoddart stated. Google blames the error on an experimental program installed with the Google Street View cars.
It seems Canadians are getting quite the reputation for digital advocacy and whistle blowing abroad. From ACTA to Facebook and now Google, our citizens and regulators are keeping the digital world in check. As a Canadian I’m proud to wear that reputation.
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