Internet giant promised to improve how it handles users' data after Street View controversy
Google has "taken reasonable steps" to improve its privacy policies since its Street View mapping cars unlawfully captured data last year, the information commissioner said on Tuesday.
The internet giant vowed to improve how it handles users' data in November, after the Information Commissioner's Office ruled it committed a "significant breach" of the data protection act as its mapping cars toured UK homes and cities.
Britain's data protection watchdog said Google had improved its practices, but urged the company to make improvements in some key areas.
"I'm satisfied that Google has made good progress in improving its privacy procedures following the undertaking they signed with me last year," said Christopher Graham, the information commissioner. "All of the commitments they gave us have been progressed and the company has also accepted the findings of our audit report where we've asked them to go even further.
"The ICO's Google audit is not a rubber stamp for the company's data protection policies. The company needs to ensure its work in this area continues to evolve alongside new products and technologies. Google will not be filed and forgotten by the ICO."
Google attracted criticism from authorities around the world after it admitted to collecting the so-called payload data from unsecured Wi-Fi networks via its Street View mapping cars.
The company said it has improved the data protection training for all staff, including product engineers, and built in stringent privacy controls for all new products.
But the ICO urged Google to improve how it explains to users how their data will be managed on its range of products, including Gmail, search and Street View.
The watchdog said Google should make sure all of its products have a "privacy design document", not just its new services. The ICO carried out the audit at Google's London headquarters on 19 and 20 July, where it reviewed "relevant documentation" and interviewed key staff.
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Source: http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/2011/aug/16/google-privacy-street-view
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