Watchdog warns over erasing WiFi data

A number of European privacy and data protection regulators instructed Google in May 2010 to destroy all WiFi data collected since 2007 in the course of the company's StreetView project.

However, Privacy International put Google on notice that it is likely to be subject to civil or criminal legal action as a result of the WiFi interception. To eliminate the data would constitute destruction of evidence.

Privacy International: Press Release, 18.5.10: An open letter to EU privacy commissioners regarding deletion of Google WiFi data http://www.privacyinternational.org/article.shtml?cmd[347]=x-347-566323

Google: European Public Policy Blog, 14.5.10: WiFi data collection: An update http://googlepolicyeurope.blogspot.com/2010/05/wifi-data-collection-update.html

BBC News, 18.5.10: Google chief Eric Schmidt downplays wi-fi privacy row http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/10122339.stm

EurActiv, 21.5.10: EU countries probe Google data breach http://www.euractiv.com/infosociety/eu-countries-probe-google-data-b-news-494433

New York Times, 20.5.10: In Europe, Google Faces New Inquiries on Privacy http://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/21/technology/21streetview.html?ref=technology

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