Australian Police To Investigate Google Over Wi-Fi Scanning

daria42 writes "Those who thought the brouhaha over Google's scanning of Wi-Fi networks by its Street View cars was over (whether you believe it was deliberate or not) are destined to be disappointed. News comes from Australia over the weekend that the Australian government has referred the matter to the Australian Federal Police for investigation. The country's Attorney General, Robert McClelland, was quoted saying, 'Obviously I won't pre-empt the outcome of that investigation but they relate in substantial part to possible breaches of the Telecommunications Interception Act, which prevents people accessing electronic information other than for authorized purposes.'"

Re:give it a rest

[lendude]

Exactly right. This is Conroy chucking a hissy fit, attempting a vindictive and conceited payback for Google's accurate commentary re: his pet 'Filter OZ' project, and trying to leverage what remains of his crippled credibility to boost the same. The guy is so adolescent it's laughable. Please Conroy - just fuck off and die: that's seriously the best advice I can offer you.

Re:When will this end?

[Antisyzygy]

Part of being in a public place is that you accept the risk being overheard. The thing about Wi-fi networks is that there are many publicly available networks out there that allow people to use them. How are we to distinguish if its OK to use some of them but not others if people are too lazy to go through the necessary steps to secure their networks? Just by using someones public network you can intercept their communications. Having a public network you broadcast your data over is akin to leaving a basket full of stuff outside with a sign that says "Some things in here are free but Im not telling you what is or isnt, take these items at your own risk". Now, Google admitted that they accidentally kept extra data they should not have, and then promptly agreed to delete all of it. They were not doing what they were doing as a form of surveillance. Its pretty much the same thing as video taping a public place, accidentally taping someone talking about private business and then deleting that portion of the tape once you realize whats on it.

Re:Pure Greed

[Anonymous Coward]

It's not greed...unfortunately. It's because the minister in charge of communication is a petulant 5 year old. He has a wooley idea that filtering all internet traffic by using a black list system would be the best way to stop kiddie porn. Unfortunately he hasn't seemed to answer the detailed questions, of how exactly this is going to help.
Anyway google may have mentioned that his actions were at odds with free speech (particularly since we dont get to see what is on the black list) and that Australia would be no better than China or Iran. So the minister is now painting Google as the devil, responsible for all wrongs on the internet while he is the arc angle gabriel (yes he is a fundamental catholic). Cant really fault his logic, hey mommy they said bad things about me.....waaa