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Chip Le Grand
June 7, 2010
THE federal government has briefed the Australian Federal Police in relation to an investigation into Google after revelations that staff working for the global search engine accessed private information of home owners on unsecured wireless networks while mapping suburban streets.
Australia is the second jurisdiction where Google's alleged breach of privacy has been referred to police.
In Germany, where operators of Google's Street View cars were discovered accessing private information, the case against Google is in the hands of prosecutors.
Federal Attorney-General Robert McClelland said yesterday the AFP would examine whether Google's access of the information had breached the Telecommunications Interception Act, which prohibits the access of electronic communications other than for authorised purposes.
Under the act, serious offences are punishable by three years' jail.
"There have been some complaints voiced . . . by the public in respect to practices that have been reported involving allegations that some information may have been obtained by staff of Google travelling around the streets," Mr McClelland said.
"Obviously these things require investigation . . . but on Friday the Attorney-General's Department did refer those allegations and those reports to the Australian Federal Police for further investigation."
The government's hardline response follows a clash with Google and other search engines over its plans to introduce internet filters blocking child pornography and other material banned from broadcast and publication.
It also comes amid a powerful backlash by Western governments against Google, which admitted "We screwed up" by allowing what it says was an inadvertent breach of privacy.
European Union Justice Commissioner Viviane Reding has described Google as a company that "does not respect EU rules".
Austria has banned Google Street View cars from its streets. The cars are also off the road in Australia.
Australia's Privacy Commissioner is preparing a report into the breach.
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/robert-mcclelland-refers-googles-snooping-to-federal-police/story-e6frg6n6-1225876223905
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