Tag: wi-spy

Now that the non-redacted version of the Federal Communication Commission’s report on Google’s unsettling habit of eavesdropping on unsecured wi-fi network via the Street Car has been made available, the same privacy advocate that chastised the FCC for letting Google off with a relatively small fine is now calling on the U.S. Senate to investigate the matter.

Consumer Watchdog sent a letter to Sen. Al Franken, chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee Subcommittee on Privacy, Technology, and the Law, that urged the Senate to require Google CEO Larry Page to testify to the Senate and explain why the wi-fi eavesdropping program was permitted to happen. Additionally, the privacy advocacy group asked that the Senate grant immunity to the engineer who developed the program that culled the payload data from unsecured wi-fi networks. In the non-redacted FCC report, the engineer was referred to only as Engineer Doe.

“I urge your Subcommittee to subpoena the engineer, identified in the FCC order as Engineer Doe, and grant him immunity for his testimony,” wrote John M. Simpson, Consumer Watchdog Privacy Project director. “Immunity from prosecution for his testimony is a small price to pay so the American people can finally understand what actually transpired.”

Simpson goes on to call shenanigans on Google’s previous claim that the data collection was the work of a rogue engineer.

As early as 2007 or 2008 Street View team members had wide access to Engineer Doe’s design document and code in which the plan to intercept “payload data” was spelled out. One engineer reviewed the code line by line, five engineers pushed the code into Street View cars and, according to the FCC, Engineer Doe specifically told two engineers working on the project, including a senior manager about collecting “payload data.” Nonetheless, they all claim they did not learn payload data was being collected until April or May 2010. There is no believable explanation for this. Clearly the Street View team knew or should have known that payload data was being intercepted.

Over the weekend, a spokesperson with Google told the Los Angeles Times that the reason Google had decided to release the non-redacted FCC report was to hopefully “put this matter behind us.” However, Consumer Watchdog is claiming in a separate statement that Google released the FCC report after the pro-privacy group filed a Freedom of Information Act request with the FCC for an unedited version. Additionally, the Electronic Privacy Information Center also filed a request for an unedited version of the FCC report.

In other words, it doesn’t sound like Google was releasing the unedited report out of the goodness of its heart.

In light of the Federal Communications Commission dropping its investigation of Google’s Street View’s eavesdropping practices that were uncovered in 2010 and releasing a very redacted version of the interim report that was released on Friday, Consumer Watchdog has issued a statement demanding that the FCC release an uncensored version of the report.

The FCC decided to fine Google $25,000 for the company’s avoidance of answering any inquiries about what private information it was secretly sopping up from unsecured wi-fi networks as the Google Street View car drove down countless streets around the world capturing imagery for the Google Maps service. Consumer Watchdog, a nonprofit, nonpartisan public interest group, is filing a Freedom of Information Act Request to obtain an uncensored copy of the document and is considering what additional legal action may be necessary.

Google has said that the creepy data collection by the Street View car was not authorized and was actually the result of a rogue developer, although that person is claiming that other people at Google knew about the data-sponging.

“We’re pleased that the FCC called Google out for its blatantly obstructionist violations, but $25,000 is chump change to an Internet giant like Google,” said John M. Simpson, Consumer Watchdog’s Privacy Project director. “By willfully violating the Commission’s orders, Google has managed to continue to hide the truth about Wi-Spy. Google wants everyone else’s information to be accessible, but in a demonstration of remarkable hypocrisy, stonewalls and keeps everything about itself secret.”

It’s fair to say that Google basically got off with what, in Google terms of money, adds up to the severity of a parking ticket. The lack of stern penalties from the FCC has Consumer Watchdog calling for continued investigation to get to the bottom of what they’re calling the “Wi-Spy scandal.”

“Google’s claim that its intrusive behavior was by ‘mistake’ stretches all credulity. In fact, Google has demonstrated a history of pushing the envelope and then apologizing when its overreach is discovered,” said Simpson. “Willfully obstructing a federal investigation shows Google has something to hide. Given its recent record of privacy abuses, there is absolutely no reason to trust anything the Internet giant claims about its data collection policies.”

Consumer Watchdog said the FCC should make all the details of its investigation clear to the public. “There is no reason for the FCC to censor its Notice of Apparent Liability for Forfeiture,” said Simpson. “The public has a right to know as much as possible about what happened with Wi-Spy. Google has been the one to delay and hide information. I cannot fathom why the FCC has gone this route.”

While the FCC may have rested its investigation of Google, the case is still being investigated by a group of more than 30 state attorneys general. Additionally, a class action suit has been filed in a federal district court.