EPIC demands full copy of FCC's probe of Google Street View
The privacy advocates say the report "raised questions about the scope" of the investigation, which yielded a $25,000 fine against the Web giant.
An Internet privacy advocacy group wants the Federal Communications Commission to release the full report of its investigation of Google Street View's collection and storage of data from unencrypted wireless networks.
The Electronic Privacy Information Center has filed a Freedom of Information Act request to see the commission's full 25-page report, saying it "raised questions about the scope of the FCC's Street View investigation." A heavily redacted version painted Google as being too busy to respond with alacrity to its request for information and suggested more than slight frustration.
The FCC announced earlier this week that it would impose a $25,000 fine on Google, alleging that the Web giant "deliberately impeded and delayed" its probe into the policies governing the street-mapping service. However, investigators did not find evidence that Google violated the federal Wire Tap Act by accessing or using the encrypted data it stored, in part, the report said, because they were unable to compel an interview with someone only identified as "Engineer Doe."
Google's Street View cars, which were supposed to collect the locations of Wi-Fi access points, also inadvertently collected data about people's online activities from unsecured Wi-Fi networks for four years.
Earlier this week, EPIC sent a letter to U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder asking the Department of Justice to look into Google's information gathering related to the mapping service.