Huge fine from Spanish Data Protection Agency could hit Google


19 Oct 2010

Spain’s Agencia de Proteccion de Datos (Data Protection Agency) has said it has filed a lawsuit against Google for allegedly capturing data from internet users when collecting photos for its Street View service.

It said it has evidence of five offences – two “serious” and three “very serious” – where Google allegedly captured data from users connected to Wi-Fi networks during its collection of photos and recorded this data without consent or legal permission.

The agency said that if they prove this in court, Google could be fined between €60,000 and €600,000 for each offence.

The personal data that was said to have been recorded by the search giant included locations of Wi-Fi networks and owners’ names, surnames, usernames and/or passwords.

Google reportedly handed over the data to the authorities in July.

Google was previously hit with a similar legal action from Spain in August. Back then, Google said its aim is to “delete the data according to our legal obligations and in consultation with the relevant authorities.”

Google launched its Street View services to cover Ireland late last month.