The Google Street View car in Sydney. "The question is why an organisation like Google that already knows so much about individuals, that is driving around and taking photos of every street in Australia, is collecting data that could enable it to physically map that information to a physical street and presumably a physical house," asked Geordie Guy, vice-chairman of Electronic Frontiers Australia. The EFA and Australian Privacy Foundation are jointly drafting a letter that will be sent to Google today. Privacy concerns Google has taken some heat lately about its commitment to privacy after officials from 10 governments - including New Zealand, Canada and France - wrote a letter to chief executive Eric Schmidt to express their concern over data collection for Street View and the implementation of its Buzz social networking tool.

A Google Street View car in action. Photo: RBP/Flickr Google claims the Wi-Fi data is only being used to help pinpoint the location of mobile devices on Google Maps and other location services much like a GPS signal, and that no details it collects about the network are published online. However, privacy advocates are seeking details of exactly what data is being captured by the Street View cars as well as assurances that its use will not extend beyond this application. The Google Street View car. "In terms of what they are collecting about Wi-Fi networks, there's a bajillion questions we have that aren't answered there, and we're likely to have more. Google talks about wireless routers at home but what about the printers, computers, mobile phones and other devices that might be sending out wireless information?" Guy said.

The German government was surprised last month to discover that Wi-Fi data was being collected alongside Street View photographs. German newspaper Der Spiegel reported that Germany's Data Protection Commissioner Peter Schaar was "horrified" by the revelations. The UK Information Commissioner's Office said it was also ignorant of the practice. "At no point did Google make us aware that it would be scanning Wi-Fi too," ICO spokesman Nick Day told New Scientist magazine. Little is known about Google's collection of this data. Although the company argues the information is public and therefore not in breach of any laws, it conceded last week that it could have been better publicised. In response to why Google had not specifically informed governments of its activities, the company's privacy spokesman Peter Fleischer said: "Given it was unrelated to Street View, that is accessible to any WiFi-enabled device and that other companies already collect it, we did not think it was necessary. However it's clear with hindsight greater transparency would have been better."

Wi-Fi data in Australia Google Australia confirmed yesterday it was collecting Wi-Fi data in Australia. It said the collection of such data was commonplace, although the EFA said it was not aware of any such projects here. One of the companies gathering this type of data for creation of location-based services is Skyhook Wireless, which operates from the US. Guy said: "If what Google's doing is an apples-to-apples comparison with Skyhook, and that information is already collected globally by Skyhook, why not buy it off them? Cheaper than driving a van down every street in Australia, right? "Google is in a position to make inferences about that kind of data. Skyhook doesn't have a year's worth of search history."

Karen Curtis, Australian privacy commissioner, who did not sign the letter from government officials to Google last month, said she had been informed of the Wi-Fi data collection by Google. "From a privacy perspective, our preliminary inquiries have indicated that the information about Wi-Fi data that Google is collecting would not be considered personal information under the Privacy Act," she said. However, Guy said more assurances were needed. "A MAC address on a home wireless connection or any other piece of electronics that uses Wi-Fi is a serial number, it's unique. If Google rang you up - or anyone else - and asked you to read out a serial number of your mobile phone, what would you say? I'd tell them its none of their business. If I saw them on the street with binoculars trying to read it, I'd close the curtains." Social network security

This is not the first time Google has been questioned over its privacy policies. The botched roll-out of its Buzz social network, which made the contact lists of Gmail users public to other subscribers, was highlighted in last month's letter to the company from international privacy officials. "It is unacceptable to roll out a product that unilaterally renders personal information public, with the intention of repairing problems later as they arise. Privacy cannot be sidelined in the rush to introduce new technologies to online audiences around the world. "Unfortunately, Google Buzz is not an isolated case. Google Street View was launched in some countries without due consideration of privacy and data protection laws and cultural norms. "We therefore call on you, like all organisations entrusted with people's personal information, to incorporate fundamental privacy principles directly into the design of new online services," the letter to Google said. Loading

Google responded to that letter this week with assurances that it took personal privacy seriously. "Respecting privacy is part of every Googler's job. We also have a team of seasoned privacy professionals, including legal, policy, security and engineering experts, to help guide the development of responsible privacy policies across Google," it said.