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News Front Page Page last updated at 08:26 GMT, Friday, 9 July 2010 09:26 UK

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Africa
Google Street View accused of Congress 'snooping'
Americas
By Maggie Shiels
Asia-Pacific Technology reporter, BBC News, Silicon Valley SEE ALSO
Europe Google admits wi-fi data blunder
Middle East Google's popular Street View 15 May 10 |  Technology

South Asia project may have collected Google faces multi-state US probe
personal information of 22 Jun 10 |  Technology
UK
members of Congress, French quiz Google on wi-fi data
Business
including some involved in 21 Jun 10 |  Technology
Health
national security issues. Call to 'shut down' Street View
Science & Environment 24 Mar 09 |  Technology
The claim was made by leading
Technology Google pulls some street images
advocacy group, Consumer
Entertainment 20 Mar 09 |  Technology
Watchdog which wants Congress
Also in the news Google Street View gets go ahead
to hold hearings into what data
-----------------
Ms Harman's home was one of five 31 Jul 08 |  Technology
Google's Street View possesses. where the wifi network was tested
Video and Audio
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----------------- Google admitted it mistakenly collected information, transmitted over
Programmes Computer & Communications Industry
unsecured wireless networks, as its cars filmed locations for mapping
Association
Have Your Say purposes.
Consumer Watchdog
In Pictures
Google said the problem began in 2006. Inside Google
Country Profiles
The issue came to light when German authorities asked to audit the Consumer Watchdog's driving report
Special Reports
data. Congresswoman Harman
Related BBC sites Henry Waxman
The search giant said the snippets could include parts of an email,
Sport Energy and Commerce Committee
text, photograph, or even the website someone might be viewing.
Weather
Google Street View
On This Day "We think the Google Wi-Spy effort is one of the biggest wire tapping
Editors' Blog scandals in US history," John Simpson of Consumer Watchdog told The BBC is not responsible for the content of external
BBC World Service internet sites
BBC News.

Drive-by spying TOP TECHNOLOGY STORIES

The group conducted an experiment to highlight the vulnerability Gamers' victory over real names
some users expose themselves to by retracing the same routes, used China renews Google web licence
by Street View cars, to detect unencrypted or open networks. Smartphone firms face patent row

This practice is often described as MOST POPULAR STORIES NOW

"drive-by spying" and is favoured by
criminals who trawl the streets to SHARED READ WATCHED/LISTENED

find houses or businesses using

unencrypted wifi, so they can steal
financial information.
Google has stressed all along that
someone would need to be using the
network as their cars passed by and
that the in-car wifi equipment
automatically changes channels
roughly five times a second.
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Consumer Watchdog focused on a number of high profile politicians Liquid armour 'can stop bullets'
whose homes appear on Google's Street View maps.
Gunman Raoul Moat kills himself
It found that Congresswoman Jane Harman, who heads the Police fired Taser at gunman Moat
intelligence sub committee for the House's Homeland Security
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Committee, has an open home network that could have leaked out
vital information that could have been picked up by Street View Viewpoint: Life after spying
vehicles. Afghan raids kill five US troops

Ms Harman's office has not responded to calls for comment on the Israel moves to block Gaza ship
issue. Consumer Watch said it did not collect any information but did US mulled spy swap before arrests
pinpoint where unsecure networks could be found.
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"Our purpose was to show that members of Congress are targets just Rosetta probe to pass by asteroid
as much as every other citizen in the land" said Mr Simpson.

'Concerns' Most popular now, in detail

SHARED READ WATCHED/LISTENED
The experiment found that a further four residences it checked had
vulnerable networks in the vicinity that may belong to members of How liquid armour 'stops bullets'
 Congress. The moment gunman stand-off ended

This included the home of Congressman Henry Waxman, chairman of One-minute World News
the Energy and Commerce Committee, which has jurisdiction over Police briefing on how Moat died
internet issues.
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His office told BBC News that explodes?
"Chairman Waxman has previously Five Minutes With: Kate Nash
raised concerns about Google" Gunman Raoul Moat dead after stand-
which were contained in a letter off
sent to company chief executive
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Eric Schmidt in May.
Celebrations for historic steamship
At that time, Mr Waxman said the
Russia and US 'in Vienna spy swap'
Committee was "interested in the
nature of this data collection, the
Most popular now, in detail
underlying technology your fleet
The ability to tap into open networks is
of Street View cars employed, a major security issue
the use of the information
collected, and the impact it could have on consumer privacy".

The Computer & Communications Industry Association, CCIA, said the

tactics used by Consumer Watchdog left a lot to be desired.

"What Consumer Watchdog did was not a useful contribution to what

could and should be a broader online privacy debate," said CCIA
president Ed Black.

"They detected unsecured wifi networks that anyone, including

neighbours, can pick up. It proves nothing about what, if anything, a
person or company like Google might have done to intercept and
record data."

'Major progress'

Consumer Watchdog wants Congress to hold hearings on the issue

and ensure that Google boss Mr Schmidt be made to testify under
oath.

In a statement, Google wrote "as we've said before, it was a mistake

for us to include code in our software that collected payload data,
but we believe we did nothing illegal. We're continuing to work with
the relevant authorities to answer their questions and concerns".

That includes German authorities who said it was still waiting to

receive a copy of data gathered by the Street View cars.

The office of Johannes Caspar, the head of the Hamburg Data

Protection Authority, told the BBC that a deadline set for earlier this
week was extended at Google's request because of the recent 4th of
July national holiday.

"We expect some - and hopefully major - progress early next week,"
said spokesman Ulrich Kuhn.

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