Hasta La Gadget!

Google is finding itself in a bit of hot water today, as French privacy agency CNIL has asked the company to turn over Street View data which was collected on French citizens. Google initially promised it would delete this information after a 2010 investigation, but last week it told European privacy agencies that it still had some of the data it said it would purge. As a result, the UK’s Information Commissioner’s Office asked that Google turn this information over, and now CNIL is asking the same thing.

So, what’s the big deal about this information? Well, it wasn’t just up-close data for Google Maps the Street View team was collecting – they also intercepted some private emails and passwords from unsecured wireless connections. In other words, Google made a pretty big slip-up, and now these agencies in the UK and France want to know what kind of data Google still has lying around.

Google asked these agencies for permission to delete remaining data, but both the ICO and CNIL want Google to hold onto that data so they have a chance to review it. Hearing Google explain it, the fact that some of this data still exists sounds like a simple oversight, but the company could find itself in a lot of trouble nonetheless. Google also maintains that it never intended to collect this personal data in the first place, claiming that the whole thing was an engineering mistake.

It’s unclear what kind of fines will be imposed this time around, if any are at all. Of course, the fines aren’t nearly large enough for Google executives to lose any sleep over, but this new admission could do quite a bit to harm Google’s public image. We’ll likely be getting more information on this rogue data as these new investigations progress, so keep an ear to SlashGear for additional details.

[via CNET]

Google in trouble with France over Street View data is written by Eric Abent & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.

We’re well aware that a relatively large portion of the UK (and the world) is highly focused on this Olympic event at this very moment, though something tells us a few of you might take some time from the 2012 Games to properly welcome Samsung’s Omnia M. The Mango-flavored device will be making its official debut across the pond in a couple of days, coming as an exclusive to the renowned Phones4U — at least for the time being. As far as pricing goes, Sammy’s 4-inch Windows Phone handset is set to be up for grabs for as much as £290 SIM-free or, if you’re looking to go the monthly route, it’ll be a freebie with a modest £20.50 plan. Best of all, Phones4U’s taking orders right now, so anyone interested can pop one in at the source link below.

Continue reading Samsung Omnia M with Windows Phone makes UK debut on August 1st, exclusively at Phones4U

Filed under: Cellphones

Samsung Omnia M with Windows Phone makes UK debut on August 1st, exclusively at Phones4U originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 30 Jul 2012 13:36:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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If you somehow missed the best bits of the 2012 Olympics opening ceremonies in London, NBC and several friends have begun releasing some rather tiny shreds of video for you to watch over and over and over again right here and now. It all starts with one of the strangest shorts you’re ever going to see: Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth the Second greeting none other than the most recent James Bond: actor Daniel Craig. Then it’s immediately back to the business of massive rings of fire, bell players, and Rocket Men – with of course a dash of tradition thrown in here and there as well.

First have a peek at this extremely short snippet of the Queen and her escort, agent 007. This scene displays the breadth of the influence England has had on the planet, everything from the most serious of business, the Queen herself, to a fictional character so well loved by the planet that he’s become essentially real. Of course there is no “real” 007, right? (shhhh)

Next you’ll see a video that NBC called “Pandemonium”, showing off the rings of fire as they float across the opening ceremonies in a grand display. You’ll also get to see some real live emotion from some very proud Brits as they reflect on the significance of the events while the rings connect.

Finally (for now), you’ll get to have a glance at the start of the musical portion of the events with none other than Davie Bowie starting things off right with real rocket packing men jamming through the arena. A dash of the greatest band in the history of the world sits afterward as well: Queen from beyond the grave.

Expect a whole lot more as the night pushes on – hopefully a full-on video of the entire night’s events before the bigger set of events are done!

London 2012 Olympics opening ceremonies highlights videos go live is written by Chris Burns & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.

It has seemed like Google was close to putting its Street View snooping controversy behind it a few times now, but one thing or another keeps bringing it back to the forefront. Today, it’s an admission from Google that it hasn’t deleted all of the so-called payload data in question after all. That revelation comes in a letter from Google Global Privacy Counsel Peter Fleisher to Steve Eckersley, head of enforcement at the UK’s Information Commissioner’s Office (or ICO), in which Fleisher says that Google is still in possession of a “small portion of payload data collected by our Street View vehicles in the UK.” Fleisher adds that Google “apologizes for this error,” and says that the data was discovered after an extensive review of its Street View data that it has been conducting in recent months. For its part, the ICO has acknowledged that it received the letter, and notes that the data was supposed to have been deleted in December of 2010, adding that “the fact that some of this information still exists appears to breach the undertaking to the ICO signed by Google in November 2010.” You can find both statements in full at the ICO link below.

Filed under: Misc. Gadgets, Internet

Google confirms it still has a ‘small portion’ of Street View WiFi data, apologizes originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 27 Jul 2012 13:53:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Thank goodness for common sense. Paul Chambers, the man who joked he would blow-up an airport if it didn’t get its act together and actually work properly, has been cleared of his conviction from back in 2010 by the High Court in London. Obvious-Twitter-joking can now recommence. More »