Cox Requests "Street View" Information from Google

June 17,  2010

             LANSING - Michigan Attorney General Mike Cox today announced that his office has requested information from Google regarding reports that the company may have intercepted information transmitted over unprotected wireless networks.  Google's "Street View" vehicles may have collected data about Michigan citizens. 

"Michigan citizens concerned about their privacy deserve to know what information Google collected, and if their personal information is secure," said Cox. "We want to ensure that Michigan citizens' privacy rights were not violated, even if unintentionally."

            The letter, requested under the federal Electronic Communications Privacy Act [18 U.S.C. § 2703(f)], requests the following information from Google:

• Information that Google may have about possible collection of data from wireless computer          networks in Michigan;

 

• Information regarding any steps Google has taken to ensure "Street View" vehicles no longer collect information about wireless networks without the permission of the owners of networks;

 

• Information about whether Google currently possesses any information obtained from wireless networks in Michigan and how that data is being stored;

 

• Information about whether Google has used any information collected in Michigan from "Street View" vehicles.   

The information from Google must be provided to the Attorney General's Office on or before June 27, 2010. 

Michigan residents with questions or concerns may contact the Attorney General's Consumer Protection Division toll-free by calling 877-765-8388 or by visiting our website, www.michigan.gov/ag.

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