The aftermath of Google’s Street View cars collecting of data from WiFi signals continues to roll on. Followinga record fine from Franceearlier this year, neighbouring Belgium has offered Google the chance to settle with them over the case for €150,000.
As Bloombergreports, the country’s federal prosecutor has stated that Google breached national law when its cars collected personal data from WiFi networks. The company now has three months to accept the deal. If it refuses, a court case may follow, potentially leading to a larger fine and imprisonment. Google told Bloomberg that it would be studying the offer carefully.
In May last year, Googleadmittedthe collection of data from WiFi networks over a three year period, but insisted that it was just “Fragments of payload data,” collected accidentally.
Thus far, we’ve seen investigations from a number governments around the world, as well aslegal actionin the USA. Googleagreedto delete the data, but with this latest move from Belgium, it appears that this is one mistake Google is not going to be able to forget for a long time yet.
Story byMartin SFP Bryant
Martin SFP Bryant is the founder of UK startup newsletter PreSeed Now and technology and media consultancy Big Revolution. He was previously(show all)Martin SFP Bryant is the founder of UK startup newsletterPreSeed Nowand technology and media consultancyBig Revolution. He was previously Editor-in-Chief at TNW.
Get the TNW newsletter
Get the most important tech news in your inbox each week.
