IndustryGoogle Fined $25K for Obstructing FCC’s Street View Investigation

Google Fined $25K for Obstructing FCC’s Street View Investigation

The FCC has fined Google $25,000, claiming the search giant “deliberately impeded and delayed” their investigation into the 2010 collection of private user data through unsecured wi-fi networks during Street View mapping.

Google Street View Cars Tricycle India

Google escaped penalties associated with the Federal Communications Commission’s electronic eavesdropping law in the agency’s investigation of private user data collection through Street View mapping. There simply isn’t a precedent for applying the law to unsecured Wi-Fi networks.

However, the FCC did propose a $25,000 fine against Google. The search company “deliberately impeded and delayed” the investigation into the 2010 incident for several months, according to a Saturday FCC news release.

According to the FCC, Google was reluctant to cooperate with investigators. An engineer who developed the Street View code chose to use his Fifth Amendment right to avoid self-incrimination and refused to provide testimony.

In a statement to the Wall Street Journal, a Google spokesperson said, “We worked in good faith to answer the FCC’s questions throughout the inquiry, and we are pleased that they have concluded that we complied with the law.”

Google will have the opportunity to appeal the FCC’s fine.

Resources

The 2023 B2B Superpowers Index
whitepaper | Analytics

The 2023 B2B Superpowers Index

8m
Data Analytics in Marketing
whitepaper | Analytics

Data Analytics in Marketing

10m
The Third-Party Data Deprecation Playbook
whitepaper | Digital Marketing

The Third-Party Data Deprecation Playbook

1y
Utilizing Email To Stop Fraud-eCommerce Client Fraud Case Study
whitepaper | Digital Marketing

Utilizing Email To Stop Fraud-eCommerce Client Fraud Case Study

1y