US states gang up on Google over Wi-Fi snooping

Google is being asked to clarify how the Wi-Fi collection code was used without prior testing

Google could face legal action from a committee of 38 US states demanding more details about how the company came to collect Wi-Fi data with its Street View cars.

"We will take all appropriate steps, including potential legal action if warranted, to obtain complete, comprehensive answers," said Richard Blumenthal, committee leader and Connecticut attorney general.

Blumenthal has called on Google to provide more information about how the incident occurred, including whether or not the firm had tested the Street View software before it was used.

"Google's responses continue to generate more questions than answers. We are asking Google to identify specific individuals responsible for the snooping code, and how it was unaware that this code allowed the Street View cars to collect data," he said.

"Information we are awaiting includes how the spy software was included in Google's Street View network, and specific locations where unauthorised data collection occurred."

In response to the claims, Google reiterated its point that the code should not have been included but said it would continue to work with the authorities where required.

"As we've said before, it was a mistake for us to include code in our software that collected payload data, but we believe we did nothing illegal. We're continuing to work with relevant authorities to answer their questions and concerns," Google said in a statement sent to V3.co.uk.

The continued hounding of Google will once again raise questions as to why the UK has not done more to take the search firm to task over the incident.

The European Privacy Association and Big Brother Watch criticised the Information Commissioner's Office in May for failing to censure Google over the data violation.

"If Google does not act in good faith and fully divulge the private information it has been accessing, a full investigation must be carried out," the privacy groups said in a joint statement at the time.

Since then the Metropolitan Police has begun an investigation into the incident after an official complaint by Privacy International.