1. Skip to content
  2. Skip to main menu
  3. Skip to more DW sites
Live TV
Latest audioLatest videos
In focus
German coalition collapseDonald TrumpCOP29

Google under fire

November 16, 2011

A new WiFi opt-out policy comes after pressure from the Dutch Data Protection Authority, which threatened to levy a fine. Google's global privacy counsel says the firm will 'do more to address privacy concerns.'

https://p.dw.com/p/13BPS
Google Street View car
Google collected the WiFi data as part of Street ViewImage: picture alliance/dpa

Google announced this week it would change the way it collects data about the physical location of WiFi routers worldwide after coming under pressure from Dutch privacy authorities.

WiFi network operators worldwide will now be able to opt-out of Google's scanning program, which the US firm uses to provide geolocation services.

In April, the Dutch Data Protection Authority (DPA) criticized Google, saying it needed to contact 3.6 million WiFi network owners in the Netherlands and offer them a way to have their data removed from Google's servers.

The DPA also threatened to fine Google 1 million euros ($1.4 million) if it continued to scan for people's WiFi routers. The Dutch authority says it will drop the threat of a fine if Google does in fact allow people to opt-out of the scanning scheme.

But in an English-language statement on its website on Tuesday, the DPA said it had "not yet established in detail that all of its requirements have been met."

Peter Fleischer
Peter Fleischer says Google will do more to allay users' concerns

Locating more quickly

Geolocation data makes it much faster for individuals to determine where they are and find services around them.

"By looking for wireless access points that are close to a user's phone, location providers can return the approximate location you need," wrote Peter Fleischer, Google's global privacy counsel, in an English-language blog post on Monday.

"In addition, this method is a good alternative to other approaches, like GPS, because it's faster, it works indoors, and it's more battery efficient," Fleischer said.

But Fleischer noted the company would "do more to address privacy concerns."

Google will no longer scan networks that have a network name (or SSID) with "_nomap" as a suffix.

"For example, if your SSID is 'Network,' you'd need to change it to 'Network_nomap,'" Fleischer wrote.

He added Google hopes that this becomes an industry-wide standard.

"This would help benefit all users," said Fleischer, "by providing everyone with a unified opt-out process regardless of location provider."

Author: Cyrus Farivar
Editor: Zulfikar Abbany

Skip next section Explore more

Explore more

A sign outside a shop advertises a WiFi hotspot

Google bends to European privacy worries with WiFi opt-out plan

Google bends to European privacy worries with WiFi opt-out plan

Google says users worldwide will be able to remove themselves from some company databases. Since a May 2010 privacy gaffe, the company has been under increased pressure from European data protection authorities. (14.09.2011)
September 14, 2011
Street View cars

Dutch data protection authority pursues Google

Dutch data protection authority pursues Google

Dutch authorities say Google recorded data over 3.6 million WiFi hotspots. The California company has again apologized, noting that it has already deleted this data collected in the Netherlands. (20.04.2011)
April 20, 2011
A Google Street View screenshot

Google's agreement to delete British WiFi data does not impress experts

Google's agreement to delete British WiFi data does not impress experts

After having mistakenly picked up data over wireless networks, Google says it will destroy it. The Information Commissioner's Office says it is "very pleased," but experts remain skeptical. (22.11.2010)
November 22, 2010