Google and Connecticut reach stipulation over Street View data

Google and the state of Connecticut have avoided a potential courtroom showdown after reaching an agreement over the search giant's accidental collection of personal Wi-Fi data. The two parties signed a stipulation Friday that allows them to begin negotiations without having to enforce a subpoena, which was issued in December after Google refused to provide access to its data so an investigation could confirm whether it had gathered private information and the collection's frequency, according to a statement from Connecticut Attorney General George Jepsen. Google now stipulates that it collected "payload data," including URLs of requested pages and emails, from unprotected wireless networks while its Street View cars captured photos for Google Maps and Earth. – DK