Monday, April 16, 2012

FCC Fines Google $25,000 for Wi-Fi privacy violation

The FCC's Enforcement Bureau has issued a heavily redacted "Notice of Apparent Liability" to Google in the amount of $25,000. As part of its Street View project, Google apparently collected data from Wi-Fi networks throughout the United States and around the world. The purpose of this Wi-Fi data collection initiative was to capture information about Wi-Fi networks that the Company could use to help establish users’ locations and provide location-based services.

The $25,000 fine surely this is pocket change to a giant like this. But the charges the Bureau makes are pretty serious. The Commission contends that the company gathered “payload” data, the content of Internet communications that was not needed for its location database project. This payload data included e-mail and text messages, passwords, Internet usage history, and other highly sensitive personal information." The release goes on to claim that "for many months, Google deliberately impeded and delayed the Bureau’s investigation by failing to respond to requests for material information and to provide certifications and verifications of its responses."
 

Stayed tuned to FCC FORMS for the latest on this case

You can view the release here: http://transition.fcc.gov/Daily_Releases/Daily_Business/2012/db0416/DA-12-592A1.pdf

FCC forms is a public safety license consulting and application preparation company
http://www.fccforms.com

Story by David Smith
david@fccforms.com

**STORY UPDATE**

The FCC released a sort of safety drill for Wi-Fi networks. It can be viewed here:
http://transition.fcc.gov/Daily_Releases/Daily_Business/2012/db0417/DOC-313634A1.pdf

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