Hong Kong: Hong Kong`s privacy
commissioner for personal data said he is "dismayed" at Google
Inc`s neglectful behaviour after admitting it had "mistakenly"
collected personal data when taking street photographs around
the world.
"I am dismayed by Google`s apparent lack of sincerity
in its handling of this matter," Roderick Woo said in a
statement yesterday. "I am particularly dissatisfied with the
current status. I do not see that Google is taking the matter
seriously enough."
The statement said that even though the search engine
giant has admitted its wrongdoing, they still have not yet
signed an agreement to stop taking photographs until the
company`s internal review has been concluded and to hand over
personal data collected to the commissioner.
"Unless some remedial measures are taken by Google
promptly, I shall have to consider escalating the situation
and resort to more assertive action," Woo said, without
elaborating on his options.
Last week, Woo said Google has agreed to delete
certain personal data collected without consent when the
company`s street view cars were taking photographs in Hong
Kong in the past three years.
In the company`s blog, Google admitted Monday last
week that it has collected wifi data including the more
sensitive payload data from unsecured wifi networks
"mistakenly" while taking street photos for its mapping
service.
"We failed badly here. We are profoundly sorry for
this error," Alan Eustace, Google`s engineering and research
senior vice president, said in the blog statement addressed to
data collection authorities in all countries.
PTI
