Google’s motto is “Don’t be evil.” Internet users around the globe hope that the Internet giant faithfully sticks to its catchphrase. But they are wondering if their hopes are turning into an illusion as the company is under criticism for its inadvertent collection of personal information by its Street View cars.
In South Korea, Google is suspected of having illegally collected e-mails and text messages of Internet users from unencrypted WiFi networks. According to the police, the world’s largest online search engine has harvested and stored such personal data in making Street View, a much-touted Google map service, between October 2009 and May 2010.
Wrapping up a five-month investigation, the police are considering bringing criminal charges against Google. The firm may face two charges: illegal eavesdropping and a failure to protect personal information. The future legal process will steal the international spotlight as Google grabbed 600 gigabytes of WiFi data from more than 30 countries since 2007.
Amid a mounting global outcry, Google admitted early last year that it mistakenly collected data sent over unsecured wireless networks using its Street View vehicles to gather images for the map service. However, the company has fallen short of taking a moral or legal responsibility for its mistake. Aside from legal battles, Google should act more responsibly and proactively to prevent a repeat of this and better protect personal data.
When Google announced the launch of the map service, netizens welcomed it for its technological prowess for panoramic views of streets. Some were surprised by the service as it vividly shows every corner of locations featuring homes, buildings and even passersby. Others expressed worries that it may be difficult for individuals to maintain their privacy due to such a high-tech location program using satellites. Those worries have become a reality.
The breach of privacy has already posed a serious threat to the information society in the 21st century. The Google case can be seen only as the tip of the iceberg. There have been numerous cases of privacy violations involving Internet service providers, including portals, websites and other online networks. No one can overemphasize the importance of online privacy and security.
Now it’s time to make all-out efforts to better protect individual privacy and security in cyberspace. Stepped up international cooperation is pivotal to establishing global standards and regulations to make sure that netizens can safely use the Internet without any fears of being spied on. It is a daunting task, but we should not neglect preventing Big Brother from foraying into the Internet, an integral part of our daily lives.
