An internal Google database obtained by 404 Media shows Google recording childrens' voices, saving license plates from Street View, and many other self-reported incidents, large and small.
Paywalled. Here’s the article via the Universal Summarizer by Kagi.
Google has experienced thousands of privacy incidents and security issues over a 6-year period from 2013 to 2018, according to an internal database obtained by 404 Media.
The privacy incidents range from small issues like a single errant email containing personal information to substantial data leaks and impending raids on Google offices.
The incidents involve Google’s own products, data collection practices, vulnerabilities in third-party vendors, and mistakes made by Google staff, contractors, or others impacting Google systems.
The incidents include Google accidentally collecting children’s voice data, leaking the trips and home addresses of carpool users, and making YouTube recommendations based on users’ deleted watch history.
While individually the incidents may have only impacted a relatively small number of people, or were fixed quickly, collectively they show how a powerful company like Google manages and often mismanages a large amount of sensitive personal data.
Google employees internally report these privacy and security issues, assigning them priority ratings from P0 (highest) to P1.
The database obtained by 404 Media contains thousands of reports of these incidents over the 6-year period.
The revelations highlight the challenges major tech companies face in protecting user privacy and data, even with internal reporting systems.
The incidents suggest Google may not always be fully transparent about privacy and security issues impacting its users.
The article suggests the need for greater scrutiny and accountability around how large tech companies like Google handle sensitive user data.
Paywalled. Here’s the article via the Universal Summarizer by Kagi.