Google's Wi-Fi data collection incident draws more scrutiny

Canada's privacy commissioner has launched an investigation into Google's disclosure that it collected data from unsecured home Wi-Fi networks.

"We are very concerned about the privacy implications stemming from Google's confirmation that it had been capturing Wi-Fi data in neighborhoods across Canada and around the world over the past several years," Canadian Privacy Commissioner Jennifer Stoddart said in a statement Tuesday.

Google acknowledged last month that vehicles that photograph pictures for the company's Street View service and tracked the location of Wi-Fi networks collected data from unsecured Wi-Fi networks. Several members of Congress have called on the Federal Trade Commission to investigate the matter, while European Union officials also have voiced concern.

Stoddard said that her office will examine whether the incident violated Canada's private sector privacy law. Google said it collected the information by mistake and pledged to cooperate with all relevant authorities.