Google to Pay $7 Million in Settlements After Collecting Personal Information

Attorney General Eric Schneiderman Tuesday joined 37 states and the District of Columbia in announcing a multi-million settlement with Google over its unauthorized collection of data from unsecured wireless networks nationwide.

Between 2008 and March 2010, Google took photographs for its street view service and for use in future geo-location services.

At the same time, Google collected and stored information including email and text messages, passwords, and web histories being transmitted over unsecured wireless networks without consent from the consumer.

Under the terms of the agreement, Google has agreed to secure and destroy the information it improperly collected. It will also launch an employee training program to ensure its employees understand how to protect consumers and their information, conduct a national advertising campaign to educate consumers on how to protect their private information, and pay a $7 million fine to the states involved.