Google Argues Street View Cars Did Not Violate Privacy Laws

Arguing that it broke no laws, Google is asking a judge to dismiss a potential class-action lawsuit stemming from the company's collection of data sent over WiFi networks.

"It is not unlawful under the Wiretap Act to receive information from networks that are configured so that communications sent over them are "readily accessible to the general public," Google says in papers filed late last week with the U.S. District Court James Ware in San Jose (CA). The lawsuit stems from Google's admission earlier this year that its Street View cars collected payload data -- including URLs, passwords and emails -- sent over unencrypted WiFi networks. Google apologized for the interception and said it intended to destroy the data. Nonetheless, the company's acknowledgment triggered investigations abroad and in the U.S. about whether Google violated privacy laws, including the federal wiretap law.