Google Privacy Probe Dropped by FTC After Assurances

The Federal Trade Commission ended its investigation of Google's collection of data over unsecured wireless networks after the company said it will improve privacy safeguards in its Street View mapping project.

The agency said the company also agreed not to use the data, according to a letter from David Vladeck, director of the FTC's Bureau of Consumer Protection, to Albert Gidari, a lawyer for Google. The company's pledge not to include the information in any Google products "is critical to mitigate the potential harm to consumers from the collection of payload data," Vladeck wrote. "Because of these commitments, we are ending our inquiry into this matter."