What was Google thinking?

UK’s Information Commissioner has changed his mind – there was a significant breach by Google. This piece on the BBC website summarises the change of mind.

This is the but that’s hard to believe: ‘Google discovered that, along with legitimate data about the location of wi-fi hotspots, the cars were also hoovering up personal details from unsecured networks, known as payload data’. What were they thinking?

Bad enough that Google has been photographing everyone’s property –  and a post photograph opt out seems a very limited protection for those who object to the intrusion of privacy.  But ‘hoovering up personal details from unsecured networks’ does not seem like a smart way to win and influence friends.

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I think Google has been a pioneer and has contributed in a hugely positive way to society.  But they need less gaff’s on the privacy front.