The Google Streetview car

Throughout 2008-2010, the popular Google Streetview car has driven down the roadways of the world capturing pictures for their virtual mapping project. However, what is unknown to most is that this pole-mounted camera was collecting personal documents such as emails, usernames, passwords, and images from wireless networks. Google claims that this was inadvertent.

According to BBC News, “It had hoped to put the issue behind it, arguing that it had no case to answer because such data was readily accessible to members of the public and therefore not subject to wire-tapping laws.”

It has been ruled that Google has broken the law despite the fact that these wifi networks are open to the public.

Stakeholders in this case include shareholders, competitors, the government, the public whose information was collected, and Google’s company as a whole. The company must protect their brand from this privacy scandal. In regards to ethics, they cannot use ignorance as a defence. Stakeholders are expecting a quick and repentant response. Google must move forward with a public apology and express the actions they will take to ensure that the public’s safety and privacy is returned.

The opportunity has appeared to train employees internally about privacy and data. Google has promised to obliterate all data.

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Picture from here