Google will delete all personal data its Street View cars collected from unsecured wi-fi networks, it was revealed yesterday.
Google sparked an international outcry last month after it admitted collecting information from unsecured wireless networks as its vehicles roamed residential streets.
The company was accused of unlawfully harvesting data including emails, passwords and website addresses during the creation of its Street View maps.
01.jpg (34.6 KB. 468x286 - viewed 2 times.)Google has agreed to delete any personal data it picked up accidentally with its Street View cars
Today Information Commissioner Christopher Graham said Google will also introduce improved training measures on security awareness and data protection issues for all its employees worldwide.
More...
MySpace in 'desperate final roll of the dice' as it lets users access Facebook directly from site
It will also require its engineers to maintain a privacy design document for every new project before it is launched.
The decision is a victory for privacy campaigners furious that Google had refused to back down over claims that it had unlawfully accessed private data, albeit accidentally.
Mr Graham said: 'I am very pleased to have a firm commitment from Google to work with my office to improve its handling of personal information.
'We don't want another breach like the collection of payload data by Google Street View vehicles to occur again.
'It is a significant achievement to have an undertaking from a major multinational corporation like Google Inc that extends to its global policies and not just its UK activities.
'We will be keeping a close watch on the progress Google makes and will follow up with an extensive audit.
'Meanwhile, I welcome the fact that the wifi payload data that should never have been collected in the first place can, at last, be deleted.'
Alan Eustace, Google's senior vice president, signed an undertaking on behalf of Google Inc to put in place improved training measures on security awareness and data protection issues for all employees, the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) said.
The company will also require its engineers to maintain a privacy design document for every new project before it is launched and the personal data collected in the UK will be deleted.
The ICO will also conduct a full audit of Google's internal privacy structure, privacy training programmes and its system of privacy reviews for new products within nine months.
MPs accused the company of deliberately collecting millions of passwords, websites (URLs) and emails for commercial gain.
The Metropolitan Police recently announced that they would not launch a criminal inquiry.
The decision came after the United States Federal Trade Commission ruled out direct action while registering concerns that the information was collected.
A Google spokeswoman said: 'Were pleased that the ICO have concluded their investigation and we will be working to delete the data as soon as possible.'
