Google Scores Privacy Appeal

A federal judge sided with Google on Monday, granting the search giant the right to appeal his ruling that packet-sniffing on non-password-protected Wi-Fi networks is illegal wiretapping.

The decision by U.S. District Judge James Ware tentatively sets aside his June 29 ruling in nearly a dozen combined lawsuits seeking damages from Google for eavesdropping on open, unencrypted Wi-Fi networks from its Street View mapping cars. The vehicles, which rolled through neighborhoods across the country, were equipped with Wi-Fi–sniffing hardware to record the names and MAC addresses of routers to improve Google location-specific services. But the cars also secretly gathered snippets of Americans’ data.

Lord knows I'm in favor of privacy.  I'm glad it was reviewed and I'm not convinced the judge made the wrong call given the context.  However, to grow our data infrastructure, this was a necessary concession.  If you password-protect your data it should be protected.  If you do not, then it is up for grabs.  It's the same as leaving an office door open or closed.  To ensure that data can move smoothly this had to be declared.  The problem may be with some tech dinosaurs that don't understand the need for data protection.  It will be a difficult adjustment for people who are not used to taking ownership of their accounts or privacy.   Eventually they will come to understand that it's a jungle out there and if you don't take the minimum steps necessary you have little room for complaint.


Now, if it's protected and attacked, that's different.  Nail them to the wall and make an example.  But first things first, make that elementary attempt to close that door so data that is intended to travel freely can do so.  I'm all for privacy protection, not so much for dummy proofing or crippling on behalf of those who make no effort.