Google fined 145,000 euros over illegal wi-fi data capture in Germany

"It is one of the biggest known data protection violations in history"; Germany data chief

''The actions of a single individual''; Google's executive chairman Eric Schmidt
 

Google has been fined 145,000 euros (£125,000) by German data regulators for illegally recording information from unsecured wi-fi networks.

But the regulator admitted the amount was "totally inadequate" as a deterrent to the company.

The search giant said it unintentionally collected data including emails, passwords and photos.

Google has said it never intended to store the personal data, which had been captured in 2008-10, while the company gathered material for its Street View service.

The information has since been deleted, the data protection agency said.

Under European regulations, the maximum fine for an accidental violation is 150,000 euros - but data protection supervisor Johannes Caspar called for that amount to be increased in future.

Google's executive chairman Eric Schmidt told that the violation came from "the actions of a single individual that were not authorised by the executives".
Source: BBC Posted by Unknown 4/22/2013