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 Linda Thomas
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Linda is the morning news anchor and features reporter for KIRO Radio. This is her local news blog, with an emphasis on social media, technology, Northwest companies, education, parenting, and anything else that grabs her attention.

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Google.jpg
Google's Street View project let's people explore places around the world through 360-degree street level imagery. Cars have been driving around cities since 2007 with their cameras mounted on top of the vehicle. The latest generation of Google's cameras take high definition images. I caught this one in my neighborhood in 2011. (Linda Thomas photo)

Multi-million dollar settlement in Google's street view oogling

March 12, 2013 @ 4:46 pm (Updated: 5:35 pm - 3/12/13 )

Washington joins 37 other states in a $7 million settlement with search engine giant Google for collecting data from unsecured wireless networks nationwide while taking photographs for its Street View service.

From 2008 through May 2010, Google equipped its Street View cars with antennae and open-source software that it admitted was collecting network identification information to use for future geo-location services.

Google claimed it was "unaware" the company was collecting the data.

"This is a prime example of the power of the state Attorneys General to band together and hold powerful companies accountable," Washington Attorney General Bob Ferguson said in a statement.

No longer collecting information, Google has disabled or removed the equipment and software used to collect the information from its Street View vehicles, and has agreed not to collect any additional information without notice and consent.

Which is more important to you, privacy or convenience? Although the Google street view stalkers make me nervous, they also provide a service I use through Google Maps.

Of this multi-million dollar settlement, Washington will receive $135,604.

By LINDA THOMAS

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Comments (3)


  • Add A Comment

  • ron prevost wrote...
    WOW - the state gets $135,000 ???????
    March 12, 2013 7:29 pm
    And a total settlement of $7M ??? ... As nation-wide law suits go, this is a drop in the bucket, BUT, it's the principle of the thing.

    Of course, had it been government collecting information and DOING the 'oogling' .............. .

    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Citizen of Krazy Town wrote...
    Microsoft gets critically penalized for not providing a browser choice...
    March 13, 2013 7:55 am
    Google gets the equivalent of losing its lunch money for illegally spying on millions of citizens. Up is Down
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • HikerACE wrote...
    Welcome to bizzaro world.
    March 13, 2013 11:38 pm
    May normalcy rest in peace.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }